Bewick's wren

Bewick's wren - its numbers are in decline.

My first encounter with the very vocal Bewick's wren was back in 1997 on a canoe trip to the Broken Islands.  I did not see another one again until a few years ago in a conservatory near Nanaimo.  Today, for the first time, I saw a number of them in a marsh near my home.  This wren is not terribly pretty - most wrens are somewhat drab in appearance - but are remarkably vocal.  This is another thing most wrens have in common; they chatter a lot.

I remember seeing a Pacific wren a few years ago atop an enormous cedar tree.  Between its diminutive size and distant placement it was hardly visible, but its song filled the woods.  Other wrens I have seen include the marsh, winter, and rock wren.  Winter wrens are year-round residents here.  The distinctive ticking sound facilitates an easy identification.  My favourite characteristic of all though is the telltale angle at which their tailfeathers point up when they are perched.

There are a number of factors at play which are affecting the numbers of wrens.  Invasive species like the house finch (European finch) are partly responsible as they drive other species away from natural sites that, in turn, drive away Bewick's wrens.  Changing climate is another factor which has just started to play its hand in affecting the distribution of birds of all species.  Then there is habitat loss.  As we increase in numbers and require more land for either living or growing food there is less habitat for wildlife.  These three factors are costing a terrible toll on our native plants and animals.

Thanks for reading.   www.ericspix.com   Eric Svendsen