On The Fence

A Bewick's Wren is an LBJ. (In this case, the term has nothing to do with our previous president.) 

Brown is an excellent camouflage color for birds especially if they are searching for food on a dead tree. Being mostly brown not only makes birds more difficult to see it also makes them harder to identify. Especially, if they are small, speedy and shy. In frustration, budding birders sometimes short-circuit the identification process by calling tiny coffee-colored birds, little brown jobs i.e. LBJs.

Eighty years ago, our local Bewick's Wrens were thought of as a distinct species. At that time, they were referred to as Seattle Wrens. In time, the scientific perspective changed and they became one of many subspecies of the Bewick's Wren.

Currently, there are still more than a dozen subspecies left in North America. In general, the farther east you go the less likely you are to find living members of whichever subspecies' once inhabited the area.

The plight of the eastern Bewick's Wrens reinforces our need to find ways to coexist with the creatures around us. To do so, we must understand their needs and how our decisions impact their survival. A great place to start is to make sure we know all three species of wrens that live around Union Bay and the ecosystems where they live.

For the advanced birder: What part of a Bewick's Wrens body has spots? 

(If you do not know, in the end, you will find the answer in this post.)

The second species, pictured here, has a shorter tail, a much fainter eyebrow and tends to harvest insects from the forest underbrush. Also, its song is longer and filled with rapid-fire crisp little notes which roll up and down in pitch. It is the Pacific Wren. About the only places, I run across them is in the brushy portions of Interlaken Park or the Arboretum. If you have them in your yard, then your property is most likely an exceptional Wildlife Sanctuary and/or very close to one.

Until 2010, the Pacific Wren was considered a subspecies of the more eastern Winter Wren. It then became a separate species due to minimal interbreeding and newly discovered genetic differences. They are short-distance migrants who live in our area year-round.

This third species lives primarily among cattails. It has dark and light 'checkering' on its upper back, which the other two species lack. Its songs and calls are the most mechanical sounding and the least melodic of our three wren species. It is a Marsh Wren. 

I see these most commonly in the cattails at the Union Bay Natural Area. I suspect they also reside in the cattails to the east and southeast of Foster Island - but given that these areas can only be accessed via the water I am not there to see them as often.

Marsh Wrens are medium distant migrants. They are in our area year-round, but less frequently in the Winter. Plus, the males are much easier to see and hear during the Spring - when they are loudly advertising all the nests they have built for potential harem members.

The Bewick's Wren is found in a greater variety of habitats than the other two species. It looks for insects in bushes, trees, logs, leaf litter and sometimes on fences. The Bewick's Wren is more likely to venture into your yard than the other two species. On the Pacific Coast these wrens are resident, non-migratory birds. 

All About Birds says, ' Before eastern populations disappeared, some migration was reported from northern parts of the range south to Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Florida.' Clicking on the link above will show you a range map. It indicates there are no longer any year-round populations of Bewick's Wrens east of the Mississippi.

The family name for the wrens of American, Europe, and Asia is Troglodytidae. According to Wikipedia, the name originated from the word 'troglodyte' which essentially means, 'One who lives in a cave.

 

I have yet to see a Bewick's Wren in a cave, but I have seen them looking almost comfortable in a hole in a tree. Did you notice the barring on the long tail?

I have also seen a pair of young, snuggled up together, toward the end of the day, in a hole in a dead snag - most likely excavated by a Pileated Woodpecker. All About Birds describes Bewick's Wren nest sites as including, '...rock crevices and ledges, brush piles, abandoned woodpecker nest cavities, outbuildings, nest boxes and abandoned automobiles.'

A couple of years ago, while watching our local female Pileated Woodpecker, Goldie, excavating for carpenter ants, I noticed a Bewick's Wren who was also watching the woodpecker's progress. The wren is on the right side, in this photo.

Afterward, once the woodpecker moved on, the wren came in for a closer inspection of the woodpecker's various excavations. No doubt hoping for an easy meal.

Bewick's Wrens are smart enough to take food where ever they find it. Last week, I watched one working its way along the top of a fence at the University of Washington. This fence stands along the east end of Husky Stadium practice facility.

As it worked its way along the fence the wren stirred up a cloud of small insects.

It was obvious the wren knew what it was doing.

It would snag the small creatures, then reposition and swallow them while closing in for the next opportunity. It was an extremely fast and fluid hunting expedition.

The little bird worked thirty or forty yards along the top of the fence before it moved on.

Nearly two hundred years ago John James Audubon watched a Bewick's Wren hunt for insects along a fence in Louisiana. If you follow this highlighted link to All About Birds you can scroll down to the second paragraph under 'Cool Facts' and read his quote and also learn how he came up with this species name. Sadly, in 2020, even Audubon would have trouble finding a Bewick's Wren in Louisiana.

(In Germany, the Eurasian Wren is called, 'Zaunkonig' - which translates to 'Fence King'.)

If we want future generations to have the chance to appreciate Bewick's Wrens there are specific actions that landowners, can take. Besides having a fence, here are some other ways you can make your property more appealing to Bewick's Wrens: 

• Planting native plants - native birds naturally know how to use them,  

• Leaving a brush pile or two - they provide places for small birds to hide, find nesting materials and build protected nests,

• Leaving bushes full and untrimmed all the way to the ground. This also provides protection e.g. like a living brush pile.

• Leaving dead leaves - fertilizes plants, keeps plants warmer, enhances food sources for birds, plus leaves can be used in nests.

• Leaving spider webs - spider silk is used to hold their nests together,

• Leaving snags standing (at least 10' - 15') - provides cavities for nesting,

• Allow plants to flower (including grass) - more food for insects means more food for birds, plus dead grass is used in many bird's nests,

• Plant in multiple dimensions - ground cover, understory and overstory (this multiplies your properties benefit to wildlife).

I would recommend the best place for most of these changes is, of course, along your backyard fence. If all your neighbors take a similar approach these changes will essentially unite and create a larger and more prolific wildlife sanctuary. By the way, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also supports Backyard Wildlife Sanctuaries. 

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city! 

Larry

Going Native:

Without a well-funded Environmental Protection Agency, it falls to each of us to be ever more vigilant in protecting our local environments. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. I hope we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.

2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)

3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.

4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms. 

A)

B)

C) 

Are these birds native to our area? What species do they belong to? 

Scroll down for the answer.

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Yes, they are all PNW natives!

A) Marsh Wren - also known as the Long-billed Marsh Wren

B) Bewick's Wren - formerly called the Seattle Wren

C) Pacific Wren - formerly called the Winter Wren 

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The Email Challenge:

Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign-up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue. 

My functional workaround is to set up my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Thank you for your patience!

My email address is: LDHubbell@Comcast.Net

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As a reward to those who have read this far, here are a couple of photos showing the seldom seen spots on the lower back of preening Bewick's Wrens. They are tricky to see since the spots are hidden unless the bird holds the covering feathers erect and/or lowers its wings.

Overlooked

How do we know this is a female Downy Woodpecker?

By winter, the variety of smaller bird species around Union Bay has declined. Luckily, nature compensates birdwatchers by removing the leaves from deciduous trees. Leafless branches provide a few more opportunities to see our non-migratory resident birds. None the less, quick little birds can be easily overlooked.

A Bewick's Wren inspects the moss and lichen for tasty miniature lifeforms. 

During short, sunlit days hungry birds can become more active and somewhat easier to see.

We know this is a male Downy Woodpecker due to the small red spot on the back of his head.

This Downy Woodpecker decided to hop along the top of the log while prospecting for nuggets of nutrition.

It must have taken at least ten minutes before this nervous little Pacific Wren decided it was safe to sneak out of the leaf litter and enjoy a brief moment in the sun.

However, the moments when small birds sit motionless, out in the open, in direct sunlight are the exception not the rule. More often, little birds search for food under leaf litter, in and around fallen logs or among the branches and twigs of small bushes and trees. The intervening foliage often obscures our view. Their fast flickering motions can make them hard to track even when they are in plain sight.

Here are a few examples of how small birds can be easily overlooked. The Downy Woodpecker in this photo can be a bit difficult to see even with its red, white and black coloring.

(It is fairly close to the center of the photo.)

Even more challenging is a little brown wren. Especially, since it has turned its tail toward the camera. It is almost perfectly in the middle of the photo. 

Often, when I glance down at a setting on my camera and then try to look up and continue photographing a small bird I can no longer find it - even when the bird has not have moved at all. 

Can you spot the Towhee in this photograph? Being easy to overlook is a critical survival skill for small birds. Predators are constantly searching for an easy meal.

For example, on Friday, this young Cooper's Hawk leaped up from the ground and perched on this small branch in the Union Bay Natural Area. It sat, watching every little movement, for nearly a half an hour. I suspected it had recently fed. Nearby, a Dark-eyed Junco sounded a warning to all who would listen. 

Cooper's Hawks usually weigh less than a pound. They are not the smallest, and certainly not the largest of predatory birds, however, they are perfectly-sized to hunt small songbirds and little woodpeckers.

Given its relatively small size, Cooper's Hawks must also be aware of larger predators. Turning its head sideways allows a better view of any potential danger in the sky.

From this angle, it looks like the Cooper's Hawk has a partially full crop. The 'neck' area just below the head looks slightly swollen with food. 

Vertical stripes on the chest of a Cooper's Hawk indicate it is a young bird. Even though it is not yet fully mature Cooper's Hawks sometimes mate and attempt to raise young before they get the horizontal barring which indicates maturity.

I wondered what the young hawk was watching. Was there a larger predator in the area?

We were very close to the location where I spotted this Red-tailed Hawk in early November.

I wondered if the Cooper's Hawk had its eye on a distant Red-tailed Hawk circling overhead. Red-Tailed Hawks can easily weigh three or four times as much as a Cooper's Hawk. 

Later on Friday, I spotted this immature Bald Eagle looking down from a perch in a Cottonwood Tree on the eastern side of the Union Bay Natural Area. Red-tailed Hawks do not have much to fear from Cooper's Hawks, but they must watch out for Bald Eagles. Eagles can easily weigh three or four times as much as a Red-Tailed Hawk.

It is interesting to note that the perches, which these predatory birds used, increased in elevation in proportion to the bird's weight. The Cooper's Hawk was about 10 feet above the ground, the perched Red-tailed Hawk was approximately 25 or 30 feet in the air, while the Bald Eagle was probably 60 to 70 feet above the ground.

When predators pick off smaller birds its like filtering out the gene pool. As a result, the smaller birds who survive, keep getting faster, their camouflage keeps getting better which makes them even easier for us overlook.

One way to spot the smaller birds is to follow the gaze of a larger predator. Predatory birds look over everything while overlooking almost nothing.

Have a great day on Union Bay...where nature lives in the city!

Larry

ps: The Spotted Towhee was in the upper left quadrant of the earlier photo. Also, the female Downy Woodpecker has no red on her head.

Going Native:

Without a well-funded Environmental Protection Agency, it falls to each of us to be ever more vigilant in protecting our local environments. Native plants and trees encourage the largest diversity of lifeforms because of their long intertwined history with our local environment and native creatures. I have been told that even the microbes in the soil are native to each local landscape. My hope is that we can inspire ourselves, our neighbors and local businesses to respect native flora and to support native wildlife at every opportunity. I have learned that our most logical approach to native trees and plants (in order of priority) should be to:

1) Learn and leave established native flora undisturbed.
2) Remove invasive species and then wait to see if native plants begin to grow without assistance. (If natives plants start on their own, then these plants or trees are likely the most appropriate flora for the habitat.)
3) Scatter seeds from nearby native plants in a similar habitat.
4) If you feel you must add a new plant then select a native plant while considering how the plant fits with the specific habitat and understanding the plant's logical place in the normal succession of native plants.

My intention in my weekly post is to include at least one photo each week and visually challenge us to know the difference between native and non-native lifeforms.

What species is this? Is it native to Union Bay?

Scroll down for the answer.

***************

Yellow Flag Iris: A noxious week in Washington. Click on the highlighted name to learn more.

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The Email Challenge:

Over the years I have had many readers tell me that Google is no longer sending them email announcements regarding my posts. Even more frustrating when they go to 're-sign-up', hoping that will enable them to once again start receiving the announcements, they get a message which says 'Sorry, you are already signed up.' Google has not responded to my requests for help with this issue. 

My functional workaround is to set up my own email list and each week I manually send out a new post announcement. If you are experiencing the issue and would like to be added to my personal email list please send me an email requesting to be added. Thank you for your patience!

My email address is LDHubbell@comcast.net