WESTERN WINTER WREN

Our winter bird life is, of course, limited but few among those that remain with us embody more of interest than the Western Winter Wren (pictured on the cover). He is the smallest of all wrens, being little better than 3-1/2" from the tip of his beak to the end of his upturned tail -- and so his is naturally one of the smallest birds listed as native to the Park. In the deep woods, which he prefers to any other habitat, his stature is dwarfed to an even greater degree by contrast to the big firs and hemlocks. We see him often dodging about among the down timber and forest undergrowth along the woodland trails though it is quite possible that we miss seeing him more often than we suspect for his dull brown color and small size renders him very inconspicuous in the deep forest shadows. Next spring, however, he will make the woods ring with his song during the mating season -- a song whose volumn is all out of proportion to the size of the singer.

A piece of suet, which has been tied to the trunk of a tree near the Museum, serves as an attraction for numerous birds and it is hoped that more will gather 'round as news of this ready "hand out" becomes known. Of course there are the customary large numbers of Camp Robbers or Grey Jays and Stellar Jays but the Chestnut Backed Chickadees and Juncos will not be denied their share and take turns between forries of the larger and bolder Jay clan who tear out large "hunks" in order to satiate their greedy appetites. What we lack in variety of species about that festive board we readily make up for in numbers.