Bewick's Wren

by Peter
(California)

This occurrence, seemingly fantastic, is true.

My redwood deck sits high above a concrete patio and an apple tree where hangs a plexiglas feeder. After experimenting with some of Susan's recipe suggestions for a few days, I noticed that a normally shy Bewick's wren was particularly happy.

It seemed much emboldened, thanks to both enticing eats and a feeder with an adjustable dome top to keep out the bigger birds.

A couple of mornings ago I was watching and I saw the wren dive down to what appeared to be some spot beneath my deck. I really couldn't see the flight path because of four feet of redwood lattice below the deck's top rail.

Imagine my surprise when I looked down to see the wren emerge beneath the bottom rail - a two-inch opening - and come hopping straight toward my feet.

It paused briefly, 18 inches away, then turned and retraced, darting back the way it came and disappearing. It was all over in a few seconds.

Birds are quick. They have to be to survive.
Amazing! Was it just an odd meaningless random event? Or, was the wren showing some kind
of innate curiosity? (Likely, it's come to associate me with food.)

Or stretching boundaries and preconceptions, was the little visitation some kind of personalized "thank you"?

I'm still scratching my head.

Any other birders out there harboring similar experiences? I'd be happy to hear them. I know one thing. I'll be less likely to call anyone a "bird brain" from now on. Not when it's obvious that birds, in a flash, see and process so many levels of what's going on around them.