This morning around 9:45, I was alerted by Trevor Sleight that there was a
Marsh Wren in the courtyard of the new Integrated Science Center building
at William & Mary. Unfortunately, the design of this courtyard makes it a
trap for birds, and this may only be the first of many migrants we will
encounter like this. Several people had a chance to get great views of this
bird, and then we formed a line and herded it back to the other end, where
it was able to escape.
While Marsh Wren is not an uncommon species locally, it is a difficult bird
to get within the City of Williamsburg, which has very little suitable
habitat. This was the first eBird record, and the only other record I know
of is a specimen that was the victim of a window strike on campus several
years ago.
Best,
--Matt Anthony
Williamsburg
