Dawn Chorus Update #6: It's a Wren's World at Tennant Lake, and We're Just Living in It.

[Stephen Chase]

Hi Whatcom Birds,

My day started early this morning: a 5:16 arrival at the WDFW parking lot on Slater Road. With a full half hour before first light, I wondered if I would beat the dawn chorus, but I was wrong: the robins were already singing. One treat to being on the trail so early is the unique mix of hearing Great Horned Owls hooting and American Robins singing at the first time. By 5:24, the robin song had risen to a crescendo: the dawn chorus is upon us!

My target today was Tennant Lake, which sports a recently renovated loop boardwalk through the marshes. I wanted to experience the wetland version of the dawn chorus. On stage this morning: galumphing American Bitterns, a Virginia Rail, Common Yellowthroats, Savannah Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Purple Finches, Red-winged Blackbirds galore, and wrens! Marsh wrens were singing their hearts out all through the wetlands. I identified at least ten unique individuals - all singing males - but I'm certain there were at least as many females, and likely many more, as I struggled to triangulate them on the winding boardwalk trail. I love their songs! I wasn't able to approach one close enough for a high-quality audio clip this morning, so for the sake of treating your ears, I'll share my favorite Marsh Wren clip, recorded at Flynn Pond in Lynden last March. I did pick up a recording today as well: a raucous group of juvenile Red-winged Blackbirds interrupting the dawn chorus, and making quite the symphony! Have a listen!

The soundscape for my walk back to the car - in daylight now - was still wrens, but this time it was Bewick's Wren. What a unique species! They're one of the most likely birds heard singing full songs in fall and winter, and yet despite being residents, they tend not to be one of the early birds of the dawn chorus. I didn't pick up my first individual until my walk back along the Nooksack River. Then suddenly, they were among the most abundant singing birds, all in the thickets along the river. Just like with the Marsh Wrens, I picked out 10 singing males, and I'm sure there were as many females. Then in the one little patch of conifer forest, I also heard a Pacific Wren. Northern House Wrens will also be back soon; I heard one at my house in Everson the other day; they're regular at Tennant Lake beginning around April 20. It's a wren's world at Tennant Lake, and what a pleasure it is to live in it!

Here's my complete checklist from this morning's walk.

In Everson,

Stephen Chase