Why Their Presence Matters

Five days ago (Thanksgiving Day) I posted pictures of the first Carolina wrens I had seen since early 2021. While the little birds are not large and showy, they are a nice addition to local timbers and maybe some backyards.

An interesting fact about Carolina wrens is that their population is slowly moving northward from the southeast. At this time Carolina wren observations are considered “All Seasons - Uncommon” in Iowa. This trend is attributed to mild winters. Interestingly, severe winter conditions can move the trend southward again very quickly.

Will Carolina wrens ever become common sightings in NE Iowa? I doubt that will happen in my lifetime - assuming our warming effect does not change dramatically. Might my grandkids see Carolina wrens often (common) in their lifetimes - maybe.

I went out to look for the wrens again this afternoon. Today the birds were not as easy to find as they were days ago, but eventually I did see them hopping around in thick cover and photographed them.