Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Fill House Wren
Date: Jan 7 04:26:46 2011
From: Connie Sidles - constancesidles at gmail.com


Dear Brad, I was with my son Alex, a very fine birder, and we both got
brief but good looks at this bird (see your email below). It was
foraging in the grass and small trees immediately east of SW Pond.
This general area has hosted singing House Wrens in the spring (a
Seattle Audubon group and I found one in this general area singing in
spring, 2009).

At the time, I did not think it was a juvenile Marsh Wren because both
Alex and I noted the bird's overall plainness - juvenile Marsh Wrens
seem to me to be more boldly striped/dotted on the wings; this bird
did not have bold markings of any kind.

On the other hand, this habitat *is* very close to the cattails of SW
Pond, where Marsh Wrens do breed.

Upon due consideration, I would hesitate to say with *absolute*
certainty that this bird was a House Wren. I still think it was, but
there is that little particle of doubt in my mind for purposes of
records that should be enough to keep it off the books. Sorry for the
confusion!

And now I would like to say a note to my fellow tweeters:
The more skilled one becomes at birding, the more seems to be at stake
when one makes an ID call. You don't want to look foolish for making a
bad call. And yet, we all do sometimes, even the most expert birders
(of which I am not one!). I remember being out with such an expert
once when a flash of movement went zinging by at head height. "Rufous
Hummingbird," my companion said at once.

I was amazed. How did he know that was a Rufous and not an Anna's?
Could he have seen a bit of rufous color somewhere on the bird? Was
there a difference in flight pattern that he picked up on and that I
hadn't the wit to see? Had the bird emitted a call that was too high-
pitched for ordinary (i.e., my) ears to hear? Or was it just a matter
of ESP between the bird and this birdlike expert?

As I was pondering these questions, too shy to come right out and ask,
he stuttered into speech. "Er," he said, "I mean dragonfly."

This story has kept up my spirits for years. I might not be able to
identify all the birds I see in the field, I may still have a long
ways to go to become a true expert, but at least I know the difference
between a bug and a bird.

I think. One should never get too puffed up about one's skills because
Mother Nature keeps a loaded sock near at hand with which to klong you
if you get too big-headed. Ow. - Connie, Seattle

constancesidles at gmail.com
www.constancypress.com

On Jan 6, 2011, at 4:49 PM, Brad Waggoner wrote:

> Hi Connie,
>
> I was wondering if you might provide me with some details on your
> Oct 22 House Wren at the Fill. It is one of the later dates for one
> and I hope to put it in the fall column of North American Birds.
> Sometimes imm. Marsh Wrens can cause a bit of confusion so anything
> you could provide about your House Wren including habitat choice
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> I'm very much enjoying reading In My Nature at the moment. The
> mental image of that peregrine staring you down is stuck in my head
> now.
>
> Cheers,
> Brad Waggoner

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