Cooperative and Curious Carolina Wren
By Corey • March 15, 2008 • 8 commentsAt the tail end of my birding expedition today I was fortunate enough to have a close encounter with an extremely confiding,
cooperative, and curious Carolina Wren. I had just arrived at the water hole at Forest Park and was sitting on a log watching White-throated Sparrows forage in the leaves when the wren flew in and landed next to the log to my right. I quickly swung my leg over the log so I was straddling the log facing the bird and snapped a quick shot before it scurried under the log. I silently cursed myself for my sudden movement that I was sure had spooked the bird and ruined a perfectly good photo opportunity. Then the bird jumped up on the log not two meters away and proceeded to pose, which is how I got the picture on the right which I know you really want to click.
But that was just the start of my experience with this wonderful little wren. It jumped up on a stick and posed, ran up the log towards me so quickly I couldn’t keep it in focus, perched and posed on a smaller log that was next to me, and then flew off to chase away a White-throated Sparrow. Then it flew back to another small log near me and posed some more! I think this particular Carolina Wren wanted to be made famous on 10,000 Birds!
just before it scurried under the log
on a stick not two meters away
last shot before it ran towards me and I lost focus
posing on another nearby log
another close-up shot
Carolina Wren rear-view
And don’t worry, I’ll do a full post about the birding I did before coming across the Carolina Wren soon…so make sure you come back!
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Sounds like a great day and can’t wait for that post! These are all such stunning photos of a cute birds! Thanks for sharing these with us!
Corey - the look on that bird’s face reminded me of two things: the “famous” mad bluebird and to give it a name like, the disapproving Carolina wren. The photos give me the impression that the bird was upset with you. ;o) Great shots!
Great series Corey!
I love the shot of the butt!! it’s so awesome! he looks like he just ate a bug, his beak is kind of fuzzy.
@Monarch & Charlie: Thanks!
@Mary: Carolina Wrens are quite disapproving, aren’t they?
@Steph: Who can resist bird-butt? And the sutff on his beak is mud from probing in the dirt for who-knows-what kind of invertebrates to eat…
Corey - I have to share this with you! Only about an hour after I commented here yesterday, I had my first visiting wren for this year in my backyard. I couldn’t believe my eyes! When I checked the field guide I found out that it was a Bewick’s Wren. And it came to nibble on some suet I have hanging just outside my window. No photo, since I was afraid to move to disturb him/her and would fly off. Of course, the bird wasn’t there very long; these birds remind me of our titmice and chickadees in their “length” of stay at a feeder. ;o)
Wow, those are great. I particularly like the last one - it really captures what a Carolina Wren is all about, with the depth of color and the pose as if it’s about to scurry or flit away.
@Mary: Wren Karma!
@Carrie: Thanks…I still don’t get what it was that made this wren so willing to pose.