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Sat, 4 Jun 2011 15:27:36 -0400 |
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I spent this morning monitoring Area N for Prothonotary Warblers. I
meandered on a course that took me along Big Walnut Creek, then through the
backwater sections, and then finished up along the old roadbed that divides Area
N from Area M. The morning was productive as I identified 19 new nest
sites and tallied 31 Prothonotaries. The area really got hit by the severe
thunder storm early this week and many trees have been knocked down but somehow
those with nest boxes were mostly spared. One nest box had the upper
portion of its tree snapped off and two nearby trees came down, one on either
side of the nest box. I met a couple who visit Area N often and as we chatted
we notice a pair of Prothonotaries busy bringing nest material to Box N-54.
This is late to be nest building and I have to assume their first nest
attempt failed, likely because of storm damage. They are probably making a
second attempt to produce a clutch this year. Their new location appears to be
cramping another Prothonotary's territory as the males spent much time
chasing each other and flaring their tails in an aggressive manner.
Intimidation comes in some interesting forms in nature. It reminded me of the Battle
of Briton with the RAF fending off the attacking bombers. Eventually a
third male got into the mix and there were bright yellow rocketing all over
the place.They put on quite a show for us.
When I was returning to my car I passed by the vernal pool nearest to
Front Street. There I listened to a sing-off between a male in the vernal pool
and another across the roadbed. If both of these stay put they should be
easy to see.
Other species worth a mention include 3 Northern Parula males, a
Yellow-throated Warbler and a Louisiana Waterthrush along Big Walnut Creek;
Red-headed and Pileated Woodpeckers at their nest cavities; the Osprey at Platform
H-2; 5 Yellow-billed Cuckoos; and a pair of Scarlet Tanagers.
Charlie Bombaci
Hoover Nature Preserve
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