Photo by Gerlinde Taurer
WOOD-WARBLERS
The Bird Enthusiast’s Poster Child for Spring By Katelynn Gierlinger Avian Intern, Tin Mountain Conservation Center
Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Chestnut-sided Warblers can be observed within the same forest in the Mount Washington area, and taking the time to consider their unique spatial ecology will help a prospective birder spot them.
S 78
pring officially begins in March, or whenever the snow melts for many of us. However, the cycle of seasons is viewed a little differently from an avian perspective. While we may not see them, many birds begin their spring migration as early as February, making their way from southern overwintering grounds back to northern breeding ranges. Many associate the sight of an American Robin as the first sign of spring, or if you’re like me, the song of a Red-winged Blackbird. Surprisingly, these species often remain residential throughout the United States, retreating into more sheltered locales or commu-
nal roosts when the snow falls. Birds that give a true indication that spring is in full swing are the wood-warblers. These tiny forest gems are the birder’s poster child for the season of new life. Their arrival begins as a trickle, marked by sudden flashes of color and a few small songs, only to be followed by a torrent of birds that fill the woods with noise and activity, where one morning we wake up and are abruptly aware of what birdsong is again. I can always distinctly mark the beginning of spring in this manner. Male warblers typically migrate first to establish breeding territories and
prepare for the arrival, and subsequent charming, of the females. Competition for a mate and resources is high, as many species share similar habitats and diets. However, each species has carved out its own ecological niche, or a unique role in its environment. This is how birds partition out shared resources and coexist within the same habitat among other competitors. Warblers demonstrate these complex interactions within a single avian family, namely the Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Chestnut-sided Warblers. Each of these species can be observed within the same forest in the Mount
MWVvibe.com
