We will finally be able to use the boat! We started to take the boat out on May 25th and discovered that wrens had built a nest between the nose of the boat and the trailer winch. Inside the nest were six nestlings. The six baby wrens fledged last Friday. We happened to be outside around one o'clock and saw them start popping out of the nest. We watched them through binoculars from underneath a shade tree (hmmm, is there any other kind?) The babies hopped and fluttered underneath the boat, as the parents flitted frantically about. The fledglings weren't quite able to fly, so when they got tired, they all huddled together in the grass next to the house. By evening, one of the stronger ones was able to make it into a tree. However, despite my best efforts, the rest of them managed to get into the backyard...not the best place to be, considering one of my hounds chases/kills any wildlife that invades his domain. 
We locked the dogs up and hoped that by nightfall the wrens would be safely in the trees. Alas, that was not to be. Mark decided to help nature along by placing the babies on a tree limb. He chased wayward fledglings for thirty minutes. He'd get a couple in a tree, and as he was bringing the third, the first two flew out. This process repeated itself too many times to count. Finally he started placing them in a row on the fence. One by one, they hopped/flew until they reached an overhanging branch where Mama wren was waiting. They all quieted down for the night, and we were able to let the dogs back into their yard. That's the last I've seen of the baby wrens. I've heard some peeping and chirping, so I think they all survived. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
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