I am forwarding this on behalf of Scott Johnson. Please reply
directly to him. Thanks.

Rick


REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON HOUSE WRENS

Greetings! My name is Scott Johnson and I am an ornithologist at Towson
University in Maryland. I am currently writing an exhaustive review of the
biology of the House Wren for the Birds of North America: Life Histories for
the 21rst Century series. I am hoping that folks in different parts of the U.S.
and Canada might be able to provide me with information that will make my
account of this species as complete as possible. I am primarily looking for
information on migration, distribution, preferred habitat, and number of
broods raised per season. Below I outline my requests in more detail.


SPRING ARRIVAL DATES

If you are out birding regularly in the spring (at least weekly), and have
carefully recorded when you first saw each migrant in different years, I would
like to see your data for House Wrens. Please tell me where your
observations took place (nearest town/city and state or province) and then
list year and "first seen date" for that year, e.g., "1993: 18 April; 1994:
1 May; 1995: 21 April" etc..


FALL DEPARTURE DATES

If you are out birding regularly in the fall (at least weekly), and have
carefully recorded when you last saw each migrant, please tell me where your
observations took placeand then list year and "last seen dates" for the year,
e.g., "1993: 18 Sept, 1994: 1 Oct, 1995: 21 Sept" etc..


NUMBER OF BROODS RAISED PER SEASON

Across most of their range, most individuals House Wrens attempt two
broods per season. However, it appears that in northern parts of their
range, this species usually only raises one brood per season. I am trying to
discern just how far north one has to go to find places where House Wrens
usually attempt only one brood. If you live in Canada or the northern tier of
states bordering Canada, and monitor one or more bird houses that host
wrens, please indicate to me where you live and the number of broods that
your wrens seem to raise each year. If you can provide dates of egg laying
or other nesting activity for different years, that would be terrific.


BREEDING HABITAT IN THE WEST

In what types of habitat is this species routinely found breeding in the
western states, especially California? I know it occurs in riparian areas and
aspen groves in the mountains but what about at lower elevations? Also, is
this species routinely found in areas dominated by conifers in the West?


BREEDING DISTRIBUTION

House Wrens have been expanding their range southward throughout the
1900s. I am trying to assess the current southern limits of their range.
Some questions:

1. In SOUTH CAROLINA, this species was last reported breeding near
Newberry in the 1980s. Does anyone know if species is now breeding
southeast of Newberry??

2. It would not be at all surprising if the species was breeding in some towns
and cities in northern MISSISSIPPI but, to my knowledge, there are no
published records of this. Does anyone know if the species is breeding in
this state yet?

3. House Wrens apparently breed along the Canadian River in the TEXAS
panhandle. Are they relatively new there? Does anyone know when the
first appeared?


WINTER DISTRIBUTION

1. All the available information I have suggests that this species is absent
from NEW MEXICO in the winter, except in the Rio Grande valley. Does
anyone know of any other sites in NM where the species is routinely found in
winter?

2. Do small numbers of this species routinely winter in southwestern
VIRGINIA?

3. I have found no information on the distribution of this species during
winter in MISSISSIPPI. Is it fairly common in the southern half of the state
but uncommon or rare in the northern half (which would match what is
happening in Alabama and Georgia)?

4. This species is reported to winter in the Columbia River valley between
Oregon and Washington. Is this true? Are individuals routinely found there
December, January and February?


SPECIAL NOTE TO MINNESOTANS

Do you have issues of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union publication, The
Loon, dating back 25 years or more? I recall seeing an article in this
publication about a fully albino male House Wren that bred somewhere in
Minnesota. I would very much appreciate receiving a copy of that article or
at least a full citation so I can order a copy. I am guessing this article was
published around 1979 but I may be wrong.

Other reports of albinos or partial albinos would be welcome.

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Of course, if you have any other information on House Wrens you would like
to share, I would be more than happy to hear from you. I have studied this
species for 13 years. There is nothing about this bird that does not interest
me!

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In ALL RESPONSES, please give my your full name (so I can put you in my
acknowledgements) and your e-mail address so that I can ask follow up
questions if need be.

Many thanks!


L Scott Johnson
Department of Biology
Towson University
Towson MD 21252

e-mail: sjohnson at towson.edu