This gorgeous Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is sporting a leg band, posing here at the wetland area of the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. The Heard has a history of helping Prothonotaries by providing natural habitat and nest boxes. In fact, it is possible that this guy/gal  was banded as a baby, and grew up to be big and strong! In June, 2007, a Prothonotary Warbler family was recorded on video and streamed live to Nestcams at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The nestcams snap a digital image every 30 seconds or so, and when looped together, make a “movie.” Take a look:

I have mentioned before that I was given a very old bird field guide as a gift. I consulted this field guide to see what it had to say about Prothonotary Warblers, and to see the artwork. Time to share!

Isn’t this the coolest?!

A couple came by not long after I saw the Prothonotary Warbler. They asked me if I was getting good pictures, and I replied with an enthusiastic, “Yes!” I told them about the Prothonotary, and the man asked me why I was especially excited about seeing this bird. Well, it is because they are not as common as they used to be:

“Most studies indicate a steady decline in populations of this neotropical migrant since the 1970s. The major threat is loss, degradation, and fragmentation of habitat as many wetlands are either permanently drained or flooded. Some mortality occurs through cowbird parasitism and competition with other species for nest sites.”¹

And here are some suggestions for what we can do to help:

“Among six species that clearly need management and/or monitoring attention overall in the southeastern U.S. (Hunter, unpubl. data). Older trees with cavities should be left intact. Timber harvesting practices (if any) should leave snags of decaying trees uncut, and should also leave small patches permanently uncut to provide older cavity trees in the future. To be suitable, cavity trees should have a dbh of at least 15 cm. Also, permanently uncut buffer zones should be created on both sides of streams to provide thick and shady vegetation along stream banks; these buffer zones are recommended to be at least 90 m wide (Bushman and Therres 1988).”^{2 3}

Spring is a great time to see birds in their bright breeding plumage. The old field guide was right when it described the intense yellow of the male, especially as being almost orange.

I was pleased to see several couples and families, and later, a large group of children, walking the many trails at the Heard. I firmly believe that experiencing nature brings the joy that is requisite for the motivation to preserve nature. If you haven’t been outside for a nice, long walk on a glorious spring day…what are you waiting for!

“We have lived not in proportion to the number of years that we have spent on the earth, but in proportion as we have enjoyed.”

–Henry D. Thoreau ⁴