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Wilson, Warblers and Water

eaglesandowls816

Alexander Wilson was born in Scotland in 1766. He made a meager living as a poet and weaver and was often in trouble with the law for his strong words against the weaving industry. He is referred to as the Father of American Ornithology and began the first earnest study and documentation of the birds in the New World after his arrival in 1794. He would eventually publish his American Ornithology between 1808 and 1814. His illustrations and documentation of 268 species included 26 that were new to science and had not been previously described.

Among the many birds that Wilson is attributed to describing is the Wilson's Warbler. Wilson first documented this small yellow bird in 1811 in southern New Jersey. At only 5 - 10 grams it is one of the smallest of the warblers in the United States and the males are easily recognized by their black cap. Wilson called them the "green black-capt flycatcher" and they do indeed capture insects in the air like a flycatcher.

These tiny travelers breed in the northern forests of Canada and Alaska and migrate through every state in the lower 48 each spring and fall. During migration they flit around in low shrubbery near ponds and creeks which makes spotting them much easier than other warblers that tend to stay up in high canopies.

At Wild Bird Adventures, we have recently observed multiple Wilson's Warblers visiting our premises. Their presence has been drawn to the newly installed pond we completed this past summer. The soothing sound of running water, combined with prevailing drought conditions in our region, has made our modest pond a highly appealing habitat for a variety of species. Water is an essential element for all living beings, including migratory birds. With the prolonged absence of rain in our area and the rapid drying up of ponds and creeks, providing a basic water source in your own yard can be the determining factor between survival and peril for migratory birds. A small receptacle or the base of a planter filled with fresh water daily can greatly aid numerous birds in enduring these challenging circumstances.


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