I’m very fortunate to have loads of wildlife, including plenty of birds, on my own property and the adjacent state forest land. As summer is starting to wind down much of the wildlife is starting to make preparations for migration or surviving the winter here. For most insects and spiders, that means a last chance to pass on the genes with last breeding efforts before they succumb or go dormant. Reptiles and amphibians are starting to fatten up before they become torpid. The birds are finishing up raising their young, and they too are getting ready to make winter preparations. There are quite a few of these Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) that live on my property, and now that their parenting duties are almost done, they are more active than ever. They are on an almost continuous hunt for insects and spiders, and they are more than willing to snatch up a few mealworms when offered, too. This one spent much of the morning while I was outside hopping around in and out of the brush hunting with rarely a still moment. So when it did decide to perch for a few seconds on the pokeberry plant right in front of me, it seemed like it was posing just for me.