Warblers in May

Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Warblers represent a group of perching songbirds that share some general characteristics such as being small, vocal and insectivorous birds. Warblers can be very exciting for bird watchers alike during migration season! Warbler migration will peak early to mid-month and over 30 species will flood through the region. And although they are not typically attracted to seed feeders, you can use our suet products, mealworms and water to draw them to your backyard as they pass through! This way you can easily enjoy the migration spectacle without having to go out and look for them. 

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
Because there are so many different species of warblers that you may see, it is helpful to have an easy way to identify them on hand such as this resource by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 
You can also contribute to citizen science by reporting sightings in your area using programs like eBird. Citizen science is crucial in tracking bird species and contributes to their protection. There are a few species of warblers in Ontario that can use some extra help including the Canada Warbler which is of Special Concern, the Cerulean Warbler which is listed as Threatened, the Golden-Winged Warbler which is of Special Concern, the Kirtland's Warbler which is listed as Endangered and the Prothonotary Warbler which is listed as Endangered in Ontario.  

Kirtland Warbler, Endangered in Ontario
Canada Warbler, Special Concern in Ontario 
So, keep your eyes and ears open for these beautiful birds that will be coming through! You can also use resources found on allaboutbirds.org to listen to the songs of each individual species and learn more about them, such as this page on Canada Warblers.
We can't wait to see warblers come through our region and hope that you continue to enjoy all that comes along with spring migration. We are always thrilled to see any photos you capture! 

Warmly, 

Heather 

No comments:

Post a Comment