Warblers also using dry gulches/washes for migration corridors
I was surprised to find the Orange-crowned Warbler shown above and several Yellow-rumped Warblers including the one below in the same dry gulch/wash where I have found migrating sapsuckers. I think many if not most of us associate riparian areas, and other places with water (or parks,etc where irrigation is done) as locations where warblers species are found during migration. It does make some sense that dry gulches/washes might be suitable migration corridors for at least a limited number of warblers since these areas catch most of the water that runs off during storms so they provide the most healthy trees and shrubs, and a higher likelihood of insects and small fruit that they might eat.
I returned today and saw one Orange-crowned Warbler and a few Yellow-rumps, likely the same birds from yesterday that are using this area as a migration stop-over as they follow the dry gulch/wash down from their higher elevation breeding areas (6,500 to 9,500 per Colo Breeding Bird Atlas I). SeEtta
I returned today and saw one Orange-crowned Warbler and a few Yellow-rumps, likely the same birds from yesterday that are using this area as a migration stop-over as they follow the dry gulch/wash down from their higher elevation breeding areas (6,500 to 9,500 per Colo Breeding Bird Atlas I). SeEtta
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