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