Marsh Wrens

Another bird I look forward to seeing every spring is the diminutive Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris). These little birds, fittingly, like to live amongst the bull rushes and reeds at the water's edge of Swan Lake. One can't help but admire them - they are so busy building nests and singing out to define their territory and attract spouses. In an attempt to attract females the males build many nests.

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

This little bird, a Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris), was so busy building a nest when I saw him out at Swan Lake recently that it was difficult to snap a photo of him. I write "him" advisedly since nest building is a male activity of this species. The males commonly build one or several nests as lures to attract female wrens for breeding. Singing must also be a part of this activity since the only breaks he took from nest-building were to perch on this bull-rush and belt out a few tunes.

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

As I wandered amongst the bullrushes that line the edges of Swan Lake the other morning I became aware of what sounded like a large bird belting out a lusty territorial song. After some time I discovered that this volume of sound was actually coming from a very small bird, this little Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris).