October 1 2025. Our house, Burlington, Ontario. By design, our late season back yard has drifted into colourful chaos. It’s thick and verging on overgrown in places. We love it, birds do too as well as a couple of neighbourhood cats. I don’t much care for cats, outdoor cats but supposedly domestic, particularly those that use our place as their toilet; and sometimes snare birds. I’ll accept though that they probably exert some control on unwanted rodents.
At my desk, sorting photos this afternoon, I became aware of a harsh chatter from just outside the back door. It sounded like a bird, not in distress but emphatic and persistent. This could be interesting I thought, grabbing my camera and heading for the door. I impressed myself by quickly checking and readying it, set for what just might turn out to be a great photo op. Good call, it was a Carolina Wren, agitated by something and not in the least bit concerned by my sudden appearance. It was making its way around the posts of our back door arbour or trellis, I’m never quite sure what it’s called, back-lit by the afternoon sun. I got a couple of evocative photos and then saw a big furry cat scuttle away, out from beneath the clematis tangle. It was the reason for the ruckus, but I have no idea what it had been doing to so infuriate the wren.
Carolina Wrens have a busybody way about them. They can be opinionated and vocal often reporting on the affairs of others. They also like to explore dark corners; places others might avoid. Some years ago, a Carolina Wren flew into the relative darkness of my office through a window that was barely open. It was a little baffled but not panicked by the unexpected result.
Today’s Carolina Wren was My Bird of the Day, really the only bird of the day but it made for an interesting few minutes.