Sunday, May 23, 2010

Warbling Vireo

Saturday moring was my last scheduled Birding Class for this Spring. Since it was later in the season then I normally lead these trips, I knew the trees would be fully leafed out, and expected it would be a challenge to locate any of the warlers, vireos, orioles, etc, that we should hear singing up in the canopy. So it came as no surprise initally that we were having trouble locating a Warbling Vireo. However, something was different about this bird. Normally a singing Warling Vireo would call only a few times from one location before moving, and it is this movement that should ultimately give away its location. However, for some reason this bird continued to sing from the same location. Finally, after a few minutes of searching in the area where I thought the Vireo had to be hiding, I spotted a nest, and there sitting in the nest was the Vireo singing away! Although woodland species sing on their territories, they tend to be secretive about their nest location, so it was a surprise to see this Vireo singing from its nest. 

                   Warbling Vireo singing from its Nest