Copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
All images copyright © 1995, Don Baccus
Finding marsh wren is easy. Just go to the nearest marsh! This species is abundant in the area, and its harsh, staccatto "ch-ch-ch-ch" song fills the air in spring. Seeing these birds is a little more difficult, as between bouts of song they tend to lurk in the vegetation. They'll bounce up briefly to perch on a vertical bullrush or tule stem, sing their hearts out, then drop back down.
Patience and quickness are the key. If you observe a singing male for a while, you'll discover that he normally has a handful of favorite singing perches scattered throughout his territory. He'll visit them in rotation to sing. By quietly prefocusing on an appropriate favorite spot, you'll have a succession of opportunities to photograph the male singing.
As with most marsh species, the Center Patrol Road is an excellent place to photograph marsh wren. I cruise slowly until I find a male who has a favorite singing perch near the road, unobstructed by intervening vegetation, and photograph from my car.