Scott, et al.,
I have BEWR stories too…… har har
SHORT STORY –
Like you have noted, BEWR seem to be exploding in numbers around here, like exponentially, but this is just my limited perspective from biking the Boise greenbelt almost daily. I consulted The Oracle for more data, i.e., eBird observations (range and map spots in Treasure Valley, Canyon and Ada Counties), which I can summarize as follows:
During year 1990 – zero accepted eBird observations
During 2000 – zero accepted eBird observations
During 2010 – three accepted eBird observations
During last year 2018 – 36+ accepted eBird observations
This year so far – 47+ accepted eBird observations
But – disclaimer – I’m just doing a quick count of map spots, not of total numbers of birds entered into eBird, which are probably 2x to 3x the above numbers.
LONGER STORY –
BEWR was a species I saw / heard / daily on the western slope of Colorado. In fact I was hardly ever out of “ear-shot” from them, as they pretty much saturated my “patch” along the Colorado River (beginning in 1998). But, West Nile (or something else?) hit them hard beginning in July 2005 according to my eBird entries, e.g., my numbers dropped from 10-15 per bike ride down to 0 or 1 or 2 over the same 5-mile distance. And they never recovered, at least through 2012 when we moved to Boise…. =(
When we arrived in Boise and occasionally saw or heard a BEWR, we were asked to submit an “IBRC rare bird report” each and every time….. which soon caused “burn-out” as far as doing these reports, ick-ack-ook.. (quoting Bill the Cat)
Like you, Scott, I’ve been noticing BEWR more and more often, especially biking in our eBird patch along the Boise River, so what I’ve been doing is noting in eBird comments each “new location” where I find them. It’s amazing how quickly they’ve become established as residents here, and in so many locations. But I’ll note that habitat along the Boise River (in Treasure Valley) is remarkably similar to that along the Colorado River (in Grand Junction CO), so it’s not surprising to me that they’re here in decent numbers. Yes this is a few hundred miles farther north, but it’s also 2000 ft lower, hence a similarity in weather and in veg (canopy, under-story, ground cover)?
My big questions are “what took them so long to get here?” and “why weren’t they already here?”
Beyond ID and CO I’ve encountered the species in ten western states, and what is fascinating is to consider the range maps in field guides we might have. In my older Golden and Peterson guides (1980s), BEWR is nowhere close to Idaho. In the 1 st edition of Sibley (2000), Idaho has a green dot, i.e., BEWR was “rare” anywhere in the state. I’ve always thought this was strange, considering the many different habitats I’ve encountered them across the western U.S. And wow, if you also have the 2 nd edition of Sibley (2014), compare this range map as well… Crazy! Of course the BNA online species account is even more current for their range. It finally occurred to me to consult The Oracle for actual local data, i.e., as noted above… 😉
Another thing I’ll mention is that whatever recordings we might have of BEWR, I suggest that these are only examples of what they *might* sound like across their range. These little beasties are remarkably variable (regionally) in both songs and calls, in fact can be extremely deceiving. Different “populations” are also somewhat variable looking in plumage, as illustrated in our field guides, but my eyes don’t pick up on these subtle differences in the field.
Thank you Scott for introducing this topic on IBLE.
I’m feeling all yakky today before my bike ride along the greenbelt…
Good birding,
Larry
From: “satuthill@cableone.net [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2019 9:00:59 PM
Subject: [IBLE] Bewick’s Wrens
I wanted to post this note and see what others have noticed about Bewick’s Wrens. In my experience this year they seem to be everywhere. And either they weren’t here in prior years, at least in these numbers, or I was just oblivious to their presence – which is entirely possible.
My Bewick’s Wren story starts with the post Cheryl Huizinga made on May 29 about having at least 3 singing along Kingfisher Trail in Deer Flat NWR. I was not that familiar with their vocalizations, so I studied up before heading out to Kingfisher Trail in search of the Indigo Bunting. Sure enough I also heard 3 Bewick’s Wren’s and got good photos of one. A new bird on my Idaho Life List. Then June 2 Jim Lyons and I birded Currant Creek Trail in north Boise. One of the first birds I heard caught my attention – another Bewick’s Wren. We got good views of it. (I also went back there today and captured great recordings of its song. See my eBird list from today.) And, in researching past lists at that hotspot, Bewick’s Wrens were reported by Jason Talbot on April 19 this year and Julie Morgan and Cheryl had one last year in May 2018. Now that I am comfortable with their song I have been on the lookout for them. I have heard likely at least 3 different individuals along Crane Creek as it passes through the Crane Creek Golf Course, and to top it all off, I have one frequently passing through my yard in the Highlands area of Boise.
I see from the e-Bird range maps that Bewick’s Wrens have many reports from SW Idaho. But to me they seem to be undergoing a population explosion this year.
Anyone else have any thoughts?
Scott
