[NatureNS] Myrtle Warblers

Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:13:47 -0400
From: "Paul S. Boyer" <psboyer@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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8 Oct 2008.  A band of Myrtle Warblers (now called Yellow-rumped  
Warblers) was observed along the shore opposite Shut-In Island at Glen  
Margaret, St Margaret's Bay.  The birds were hunting insects (seen in  
their beaks) in the Bayberry bushes.  Come to think of it, an  
alternative name for the Bayberry is Wax-myrtle, so perhaps the old  
name of this warbler is not so far off.  The great Wikipedia says,  
under Bayberry, "The wax coating on the fruit is indigestible for most  
birds, but a few species have adapted to be able to eat it, notably  
the Yellow-rumped Warbler in North America. As the wax is very energy- 
rich, this enables the Yellow-rumped Warbler to winter farther north  
in cooler climates than any other American warbler if bayberries are  
present."

At the same place, the crows were loudly complaining.  At first I  
thought that they were warning of my presence, but then I saw a small  
hawk streaking by: gray on his back, and with bands under the tail.   
The warblers dove for cover when this happened.  I cannot definitely  
identify the hawk, but it looked like a Merlin.

The warblers crept around in the bushes, so their presence was first  
known by moving branches.  Every so often, they came up to look  
around, sometimes cocking the head to keep an eye on the sky above.   
When they noted my presence, they often climbed higher up some spruce  
truck or other eminence.  I got so accustomed to this behavior, that I  
used it to advantage, setting up my camera aimed at a favorite tree- 
trunk, and waiting.  Sure enough, within minutes a warbler was  
climbing the trunk, hopping in an upward spiral from one branch to the  
next, and finally settling on the stub of a twig which I had aimed at,  
which I had judged would be the perch I would prefer, were I a small  
bird.  Bam!  I got him (digitally, of course).  I mention this just to  
show that such tiny, fast-moving birds can be captured if one  
anticipates their behaviour.

17 Oct 2008.  Osprey was heard calling at Hubley's Cove, Seabright,  
Saint Margaret's Bay.  I didn't know that this was late for Osprey.  I  
guess he didn't, either.

--Boundary_(ID_/x6M3j2NVEotytiX2WUKVQ)
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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">8 Oct 2008. &nbsp;A band of =
Myrtle Warblers (now called Yellow-rumped Warblers) was observed along =
the shore opposite Shut-In Island at Glen Margaret, St Margaret's Bay. =
&nbsp;The birds were hunting insects (seen in their beaks) in the =
Bayberry bushes. &nbsp;Come to think of it, an alternative name for the =
Bayberry is Wax-myrtle, so perhaps the old name of this warbler is not =
so far off. &nbsp;The great Wikipedia says, under Bayberry, "<span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"line-height: 19px; ">The wax coating =
on the fruit is indigestible for most&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird" title=3D"Bird" =
style=3D"text-decoration: none; color: rgb(0, 43, 184); =
background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; =
background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; =
-webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; =
background-position: initial initial; ">birds</a>, but a few species =
have adapted to be able to eat it, notably the&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-rumped_Warbler" =
title=3D"Yellow-rumped Warbler" style=3D"text-decoration: none; color: =
rgb(0, 43, 184); background-image: none; background-repeat: initial; =
background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; =
-webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; =
background-position: initial initial; ">Yellow-rumped =
Warbler</a>&nbsp;in North America. As the wax is very energy-rich, this =
enables the Yellow-rumped Warbler to winter farther north in cooler =
climates than any other American warbler if bayberries are =
present."</span><div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"line-height: 19px;">At the same =
place, the crows were loudly complaining. &nbsp;At first I thought that =
they were warning of my presence, but then I saw a small =
hawk&nbsp;streaking by:&nbsp;gray on his back, and with bands under the =
tail. &nbsp;The warblers dove for cover when this happened. &nbsp;I =
cannot definitely identify the hawk, but it looked like a =
Merlin.</span></div><div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"line-height: 19px;"><br></span></div><div><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"line-height: 19px;">The warblers =
crept around in the bushes, so their presence was first known by moving =
branches. &nbsp;Every so often, they came up to look around, sometimes =
cocking the head to keep an eye on the sky above. &nbsp;When they noted =
my presence, they often climbed higher up some spruce truck or other =
eminence. &nbsp;I got so accustomed to this behavior, that I used it to =
advantage, setting up my camera aimed at a favorite tree-trunk, and =
waiting. &nbsp;Sure enough, within minutes a warbler was climbing the =
trunk, hopping in an upward spiral from one branch to the next, and =
finally settling on the stub of a twig which I had aimed at, which I had =
judged would be the perch I would prefer, were I a small bird. =
&nbsp;Bam! &nbsp;I got him (digitally, of course). &nbsp;I mention this =
just to show that such tiny, fast-moving birds can be captured if one =
anticipates their behaviour.</span></div><div><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"line-height: =
19px;"><br></span></div><div><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"line-height: 19px;">17 Oct 2008. &nbsp;Osprey was heard calling =
at Hubley's Cove, Seabright, Saint Margaret's Bay. &nbsp;I didn't know =
that this was late for Osprey. &nbsp;I guess he didn't, =
either.</span></div></body></html>=

--Boundary_(ID_/x6M3j2NVEotytiX2WUKVQ)--

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