World travelers

Have you noticed the birdsong? It is getting more vibrant and distinct every day. One of the earliest announcers that spring is here and summer is not far behind is the Eastern phoebe, with its emphatic and raspy “FEE be†it proudly tells us that it has arrived from parts south to raise its young.  

Other early singers that I look forward to hearing are the Louisiana waterthrush, one of the “wood warblers†and the winter wren. The latter has a remarkable song that is long and complex and consists of a continuous series of high trills and buzzes that can only make you smile.

 As our summer birds return to their breeding grounds here in the northern part of their range, one has to marvel at how and why these tiny creatures travel so far, sometimes thousands of miles, to reach their preferred breeding grounds in our backyards, wetlands and forests, and then leave again after only a few short weeks.  

Take the Canada warbler, for example. This is a colorful, active warbler of northern forests with distinctive black markings over a yellow throat and breast. It has the nickname of “necklaced warbler†and spends little time in its breeding grounds. It is one of the last warblers to arrive north in the spring, and one of the first to leave in the fall, heading early to its South American wintering grounds in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and northern Brazil.

 Canada warblers and many other long-distance migrants are very site specific.  At one of our long-term bird banding and research stations located at Great Mountain Forest in Norfolk, we have caught the same Canada warblers over several subsequent years in the same net in exactly the same location.  

What is more astounding is that Canada warbler pairs are generally thought to be monogamous and stay together year-round. Now even in our technological age of GPS, Google Maps and iEverythings, the thought of finding the exact same acre of forest the following year after wintering in Peru is mind boggling.  

Even after years of study, the use of radar to track migration, bird banding and even radio tagging, it is still not known exactly how birds navigate. Magnetic fields, constellations, genetic information and land forms all have a place in this phenomenon, but the specifics still remain a mystery.

 Canada warblers are on Audubon’s WatchList and are listed as a priority bird species in Connecticut’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy developed by the Connecticut DEP and many other partners.  This essentially means the species is declining.  

What makes the conservation of species like these more challenging is their “dual citizenship.† We need to conserve habitats at both ends of the migratory route as well as stopover habitat along the way. Imagine flying all the way from Ecuador with only a limited time to raise your young only to find your favorite nursery is no longer there.  Luckily, our Canada warblers at Great Mountain Forest do not have to worry as their summer spot is protected, but more work needs to be done elsewhere.

There are two upcoming events that will inspire you to help protect habitat.  On Saturdaym May 1 at 2 p.m., the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut will present a program on organic land and lawn care for adults and lawn care professionals at the Sharon Audubon Center and there are still spots available for the opportunity to meet renowned bird artist Peggy Macnamara at a wine and cheese reception at the Sharon Country Club May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Scott Heth is the director of Audubon Sharon and may be reached at sheth@audubon.org, (subject line: Nature Notes).