Winter Wren Season Wanes at River City Environs

With the fine warmth of spring spreading across the land, another season of cold times for the Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) will soon be gone again at Omaha, and at another really close place, just to the south along the Missouri River valley.

Graffiti at Shadow Lake, beneath the west end of the pedestrian bridge, indicating the midcity, urban character of the neighborhood park. April 2009. This picture has been digitally changed to enhance the view of the writing and graphics on the wall.

With some particular interest, it has been a season of midtown constants for this vibrant, warm and little wonder of feathered life.

On the first day of October, back in mid-autumn of 2008, there was an online report by someone about their having observed this little bit of avian splendor amongst the natural environs of Fontenelle Forest, east of Bellevue. With this information some particular attention was given to looking at another suitable locale. So, on the same day, there were three noted at the splendid Shadow Lake, Elmwood Park, a primary haven for this bird hereabouts in midtown River City, though 99.99% of the human residents are clueless about this important detail of the valuable natural habitats that are essential places where wild birds can survive.

Due to a particular interest in this species, going back five seasons when it was first seen - personally - in October 2003 at Tobacco Island, down south of Plattsmouth, watching endeavors with an intent to see such a bit of a exuberant bit of feathers, continued forthwith. Times with hearty hikes were needed in autumn 2004, to note that this wren could be found in the Niobrara Valley. This included hikes amongst the valley, down big slopes, and with attention to weather forecasts to avoid being stranded outside during severe winter conditions, for safety sake.

In January 2006, a particular attempt provided some more records of the species along the Northern border of Nebraska, once again at places associated with the Niobrara River. Some of this information was contributed to the Great Backyard Bird Count, though the places submitted were in no way anything similar to a backyard, but given in the manner that the effort to submit information required.

The current winter season, based upon observations influenced by personal mobility and only from an urban place, there were the regular windy gales. Winter snows blew and hefty flakes accumulated, with a result of some few minimal conditions due to by warm waters clear of ice due to subterranean spring-flows. There were frigid temperatures, again and again, where only multiple layers of clothing provided warmth for a watcher, while all the while, a little mite of a bird kept on with its daily routine of moving amongst a winter's place. Their existence was only occasionally noted by an intrepid watcher willing to deal with outdoor conditions.

These were the numbers counted on different dates during the season. Its possible that when they were noted at one of the "irregular" locales — i.e., Happy Hollow Creek and the South Grove — at a time early or late in the season, they may have been migratory wrens temporarily present.

Date	Happy Hollow Creek	Elmwood Park Ravine	Shadow Lake, Elmwood Park	Botany Spring, Wood Creek	Wood Creek, Elmwood Park	South Grove, Wood Creek
2008
10/01	-	1	2	-	-	-
11/09	-	-	-	-	5	-
11/16	-	-	2	-	-	-
11/27	1	-	-	-	-	-
12/11	-	1	2	-	1	-
12/31	-	-	1	1	-	-
2009
01/09	-	-	1	-	-	-
01/15	-	-	1	-	-	-
01/19	-	1	-	1	1	-
02/04	-	-	1	1	-	-
02/06	-	-	1	1	1	-
02/14	-	-	1	-	-	-
03/01	-	1	1	-	-	-
03/13	-	-	1	-	-	-
03/20	-	-	-	-	1	-
03/29	-	-	1	1	-	-
04/03	-	-	1	-	1	-
04/07	1	-	-	-	1	-
04/08	-	-	1	1	-	-
04/14	-	1	1	-	-	1
04/17	-	-	1	-	-	-
04/19	-	-	1	-	-	-

This diminutive wren endured where it found a suitable spot with deadfalls and permanent open water, irregardless of any human influences.

Wetland south of Shadow Lake, where the Winter Wren could often be seen foraging. The view is from on the pedestrian bridge. Picture taken 19 April 2009.

The stability of such an especial perspective of one species of the local avifauna, elicits many wonders to appreciate from some particular place, and unknowingly to other locales where this tiny bird obviously knows what situations are suitable for its survival.

As the 2008-2009 winter season wanes, the Winter Wren has been noted a bunch of times in the bird forum for Nebraska. Notations for the Fontenelle Forest environs, have been conveyed again and again this April. It was a particular focus that when another someone gave this species amongst their list of species of spring, to then go forth again to see a relative at Elmwood Park environs.

The final date of local occurrence is pending for the Winter Wren, as the time of their departure will be known only to their own avian memory. It will not be based on a some particular clock devised by a large primate.

Fly onward little wrens. Thanks for the memories of another winter season!