Birds and Nature

I spotted this Common Yellowthroat skulking around in the cattails in the John Martin Reservoir State Wildlife Area. I love their very bright yellow plumage. SeEtta

The past several days have been quite cool and rainy--what is most often the weather around Memorial Day. The fronts that have brought this weather also brought more waves of migrating landbirds including a number of warblers like the two in these pics that I photographed yesterday. Though not common during spring migration (they are very common here during fall migration), Wilson's Warblers breed in the more mountainous areas of Colorado. I caught the male Wilson's in the top two pics as he flew between branches while engaged in very active foraging. The bottom warbler is a male Common Yellowthroat that was foraging in some deciduous trees near the Arkansas River along the Canon City Riverwalk. SeEtta

According to Birds of North America online, one of the subspecies of Common Yellowthroat, referred to as the "Brownsville Yellowthroat" ( G. t. insperata ) is currently known to breed only in Cameron County, Tx which the county in which Sabal Palm Audubon Sanctuary is located and where this subspecies is found. I learned this because I saw a Common Yellowthroat that sang a song very different from the "witch-i-ty" song that is associated with this species. In fact, it sang a very melodic and complex song. This is a pic of that bird that is probably a "Brownsville Yellowthroat". It is important that we do not lose subspecies of birds. Since this subspecies is only found in this one county of the U.S., it is vital that proper habitat for this subspecies be conserved--another reason to Save Sabal Palm. SeEtta

As I walked on the "wetland bridge" walkway over the currently dry marsh area, I heard a song I with which I was unfamiliar. I was surprised when I found that the Common Yellowthroat in these pics was giving that song. It's song sounded nothing like the wich-e-ty, wich-e-ty, wich-e-ty that is associated with this species. I was told today that there is a subspecies called the "Brownsville Yellowthroat" that has a very different song. I found some brief information about this subspecies, Geothlypis trichas insperata , but I couldn't find a recording of its' song to listen to. Though "Birds of North America" online notes subtle plumage differences between this and other subspecies, though it didn't indicate if these were distinguishable in the field. I will post about my experience on Texbirds listserve and maybe someone will have further information. SeEtta