Solocrow — One Crow Against the World

Wren & Ivy

Posted on September 13th, 2007 by solocrow.
Categories: Generic Blatherings, Images.

And when for their abodes they seek
An opportune recess,
The hermit has no finer eye
For shadowy quietness.

These find, ‘mid ivied abbey-walls,
A canopy in some still nook;
Others are pent-housed by a brae
That overhangs a brook.

~ From Wordsworth’s, A Wren’s Nest

So here’s a sketch of a Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) and some English ivy (Hedera helix). The wrens are common where I live, but the ivy isn’t [unless it's a houseplant, etc.].

I often hear these guys fussing one another in the backyard. They sound like this.

Here’s a pretty little Youtube to enjoy in keeping with the wren theme:

Apparently, Jenny Wren was a character in Dickens’ last novel, Our Mutual Friend. Not being a fan of Dickens in the slightest, I of course had no idea.

There are other stories/traditions/myths involving the wren [St. Stephen's Day/Hunting the Wren, the story of the wren hitching a ride on an eagle's back to become the King of All Birds, etc.] that I’m not entirely up to documenting today. Besides, if I spent all my time surfing up interesting tidbits, I’d never get anything done — and god knows, I’ve got plenty to do.

*scampers off to the studio*

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