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Marsh Wren Small Journal

$20.00

acorn designs journal color swatch

The following description appears on the inside cover of your small journal.

DESCRIPTION

The tiny, energetic marsh wren inhabits dense cattails and bulrushes in freshwater and brackish marshes throughout North America. A striped back and bold white eyebrows distinguish this species from other wrens. The songs of the male wren bubble up from the marshlands by day and often at night as he clings to vegetation, with his tail frequently slanted forward over his back. Individual males have many different song patterns. Courtship displays include the male fluffing his plumage, leaning down with his tail cocked over his back and swaying to and fro at the female. The male may have several mates each inhabiting a different nest on his territory. Male marsh wrens build a number of unlined nests, usually 1-3 feet above the water, which reduce predation on unoccupied nests by acting as decoys. Nests are made by lashing together stems of cattails or bulrushes then weaving outer walls from strips of coarse water-soaked cattails, sedges, etc. with an opening left in the side for an entrance. Insides are then lined with grasses, rootlets and cattails. Females choose one of his many nests and add a lining of cattail fluff before laying their eggs.

Wrens are bold, resourceful, adaptable little birds. In pagan traditions wrens were considered sacred to the earth gods and goddesses. These little spitfires can help teach us confidence.

artwork by John Sill

text by Steve Sierigk