YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS ARE BACK!
(Via gardenauthor)
Both photos ©Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.org
A bit premature, perhaps, but the yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata) has returned. Last year, late winter/early spring found me all agog at the spectacle of a sizable flock of these little warblers. They stayed in this area for about 3-4 weeks and I never noticed them again, for the rest of the season.
This morning, as I filled feeders and waited for the dog to secure her perimeter fences, a small, flitting bird caught my eye. A shy, solitary female, was trying to pluck up enough courage to enter through the protective wire of a squirrel-proof feeder. A glance from the window, later on, revealed that she was, indeed, dining on birdseed.
What first alerted me to their arrival last season, was the quick, darting flight and constant activity. Because of this, they were hard to identify, initially. But, once I noticed those flashes of yellow, I was able to positively identify the yellow-rumped warbler.
I have never seen warblers in our area, until last year, when I actually identified three distinct species. The black-and-white and black-throated warblers were observed shortly after the yellow-rumped warblers, with only the black-throated staying to nest and use the birdbath for much of the summer. The Eastern Kingbird was another new visitor to my yard and they went absolutely wild over the fruit of my pagoda dogwood.
What a joy, on a cold and snowy morning, to observe that sweet, shy little bird. I'll be on the lookout for the rest of the yellow-rumped warblers, as well as any new species that care to drop by. These days, with rapidly shrinking habitat, a large swamp with hills, trees and shrubs, right in the middle of suburbia, probably passes for a wildlife preserve. And so, I shall continue to garden responsibly with low-impact solutions, that encourage the presence and assistance that wild birds provide... and, yes, I'll enjoy the spring show!
If you haven't already discovered this website, check it out... "Birds of North America" at whatbird.projectwildbird.org has many great features, offering numerous ways to key out any bird in question, a nice companion to a good field guide (I'll never give up my Peterson's Guides!) Have fun out there, seeking new backyard birds.
©Deb Lambert 2008
Both photos ©Johnny N. Dell, Bugwood.orgA bit premature, perhaps, but the yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata) has returned. Last year, late winter/early spring found me all agog at the spectacle of a sizable flock of these little warblers. They stayed in this area for about 3-4 weeks and I never noticed them again, for the rest of the season.
This morning, as I filled feeders and waited for the dog to secure her perimeter fences, a small, flitting bird caught my eye. A shy, solitary female, was trying to pluck up enough courage to enter through the protective wire of a squirrel-proof feeder. A glance from the window, later on, revealed that she was, indeed, dining on birdseed.
What first alerted me to their arrival last season, was the quick, darting flight and constant activity. Because of this, they were hard to identify, initially. But, once I noticed those flashes of yellow, I was able to positively identify the yellow-rumped warbler.
I have never seen warblers in our area, until last year, when I actually identified three distinct species. The black-and-white and black-throated warblers were observed shortly after the yellow-rumped warblers, with only the black-throated staying to nest and use the birdbath for much of the summer. The Eastern Kingbird was another new visitor to my yard and they went absolutely wild over the fruit of my pagoda dogwood.
What a joy, on a cold and snowy morning, to observe that sweet, shy little bird. I'll be on the lookout for the rest of the yellow-rumped warblers, as well as any new species that care to drop by. These days, with rapidly shrinking habitat, a large swamp with hills, trees and shrubs, right in the middle of suburbia, probably passes for a wildlife preserve. And so, I shall continue to garden responsibly with low-impact solutions, that encourage the presence and assistance that wild birds provide... and, yes, I'll enjoy the spring show!
If you haven't already discovered this website, check it out... "Birds of North America" at whatbird.projectwildbird.org has many great features, offering numerous ways to key out any bird in question, a nice companion to a good field guide (I'll never give up my Peterson's Guides!) Have fun out there, seeking new backyard birds.
©Deb Lambert 2008
