Most Parulidae warblers don’t linger lengthy within the decrease 48 and head straight for the boreal forests of Canada. American birders spend each spring in migrant traps like Excessive Island, Level Pelee and even Central Park to seize the little jewels of their binoculars’ crosshairs. Why do these birds transfer so shortly north? Is it as a result of they bear in mind the destiny of Bachman’s Warbler? Do they need for higher healthcare?
Apparently, birds on migration generally have two distinct journey methods. In autumn they leisurely journey south, following the recommendation to cease usually and relaxation earlier than getting behind the wheel once more, sorry, taking wing. In spring it’s utterly completely different. No stopping and going as quick north as doable. The rationale? Nicely, the birds are what in frequent parlance begins with an “H”, however since we’re well mannered and scientific we should name this situation “the breeding crucial”. These little birds need to procreate!
Greater than 50 species of warbler, every numbering within the tens of millions, all feeding households, will want plenty of bugs. And the northern elements of the Nearctic have bugs, a great deal of them. Tennessee Warblers go to Canada, Virginia Warblers go to Canada, Cape Might Warblers go to Canada, and so forth: all for the bugs (OK, they’re not all going to Canada however the northern USA is kind of Canada-ish by way of bugginess). As soon as the breeding is finished, the warblers head south, however they journey extra simply since they solely have one mouth to feed, their very own. Sadly for the birders, they’ve modified their plumage to the duller non-breeding model.
For these of you within the southern hemisphere, trade north for south and south for north. All images from the archive.
