Living Dangerously

   There was not much happening today as both the critters and I stuck close to our homes.  A cold rain kept us all from venturing far from the warmth of our dens.  I did manage to slip down to the pier early in the morn to check the little skiff.  While there, a sweet trilling could be heard coming from the marsh.  Somewhere deep under the thatched marsh mats, a Swamp Sparrow was greeting the morn. Its song can be heard before other birds arise and, sometimes, even during the nighttime (especially if there is a bright moon).  This tiny bird has adapted to living in the wilds of the marshes where many other birds would never survive.  Predators abound in the marshes and one slip can mean sure death.  The Swamp Sparrow has sharp eyes and can readily distinguish between a stick and a snake lying still in the marsh. 

  

  The bird has a weird way of catching some of its food.  It eats a good many seeds, but its primary source of sustenance is invertebrates.  While it forages under the marsh mats and among the roots for seeds, it also snatches up spiders, grasshoppers, crickets, ants and any other crawly thing it finds.  The bird has unusually long legs for a sparrow which allows it to wade in the shallows.  If food is scarce on land, it will wade out, dunk its head under water and grab any water bugs or even small minnows!  The bird is a true survivor!

Singing Loud And Clear!

  For the longest time, one bird's song puzzled me.  Deep under the thatched marsh mats, a squeaky, trilling sound could be heard each morning.  The song almost reminded me of a squeaky wheel that was on my son's little red wagon some thirty-five years ago.  That wheel squeaked from the time we got the wagon and I never oiled it even though Pop tried so many times.  I informed Pop that it was my "security system"!  I always knew where my toddler was as long as I could hear that squeaky wheel!  The bird was a different story, however, as I never knew exactly where the song was being sung.  Yes, under the marsh mats was a general area but a huge area.   I figured it had to be some shore bird that kept far beneath the mats as protection.

  Then, one icy morning, I ventured to the pier to sit and observe.  Surely, the bird had to surface at some time and it seemed to greet the morn with its song on a daily basis.  I waited.  And waited. And waited.  From the sheer volume of the song, I figured this had to be a bird of some heft.  No tiny tyke could possibly sing that loud!  I was wrong.  Once the bird finished praising the morning's first light, the sound changed to a wee chipping.  Out popped a tiny head then the entire bird.  This was a Swamp Sparrow!  Goodness!  How in the world can those tiny lungs push out that loud song?  Mystery was solved, however, and I was pleased with the outcome as I love these little birds.  They are so resourceful and smart....and now I know they have a powerful song!

  The Swamp Sparrow blends well with its surroundings which gives it great protection as it flits through the marsh in search of food.  During the cold winter months, the small birds take protection from the elements under the marsh mats that were piled high during the summer.  Rarely does the tide get high enough to soak the mats during the winter months so the birds have a dry, snug home.  

  This afternoon, I ventured out long enough to head to the pier.  It had been raining all day but now only a slight drizzle muffled my footsteps.  As I neared the water's edge, a soft chipping could be heard.  Yep, my little friend, the Swamp Sparrow, was busy hunting any seeds or insects that could be found.  Soon, it would dart back beneath its shelter and spend the night in comfort.  It never ceases to amaze me how some of the tiniest creatures can survive in the harsh world of the marshes.  This little one seems to do well....I am glad.

Praising the Morning

Down in the marsh this time of year, I can always find a few little sparrows.  They are busy little things that are always foraging for a meal.  I am not sure just what type sparrow they are but Pop always called them "Swamp Sparrows" so that is my name for them as well.   I like to watch the Swamp Sparrows as they search through the mud flats for anything that they deem to be edible.  These little birds will shake the tall grasses to knock the seeds to the ground then peck away in the mud.  I have also seen them literally poke their heads underwater to snatch some tiny speck of food.  I like the Swamp Sparrows simply because they let nothing go to waste.  Anything and everything is food!

When you think about it, the Swamp Sparrow is pretty smart.  During the cold of winter, they spend the night deep down under layers of matted marsh grass.  The north wind blows the tide far out and leaves nothing but mudflats.  Heat generated by the decaying mulch provides warmth while the matting provides protection from the biting winds.  Under their "house" of thatching, the birds are also protected from a lot of predators that might attack from above.  They do, however, have to be on constant watch for otters, coons, bobcats and fox.  Any of these could very easily venture under the thatching as well.  I often wonder how something so tiny can survive amongst all the potential perils that also reside in the marsh.

For the longest time, I did not connect the tiny bird with the song that I would hear trilling from the marsh.  Every dawn during winter, I could hear what I described a "squeaky wheel" tune coming from deep under the marsh thicket.  Then one day, I decided just to brave the cold and wait until the noisemaker made an appearance.  Imagine my surprise when I saw the tiny little bird that was behind that quite loud song!  Since then, the Swamp Sparrow has become my hero!  This is the brave little bird that greets the morning with the loudest song it can muster!  To me, it almost sounds like the bird is praising the morning and the fact that it has survived to see another day!  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all awoke with that attitude?