Kissed by natural sunlight,  Michaux State Forest,  Pennsylvania

waiting the Spring warbler migration brings excitement and anticipation of my favorite of the avian species to photograph and spending time in my nearby forest to revisit the birds I love.  Tiny and colorful targets of interest frolicking just above the forest floor,  and throughput the dense mid to upper canopy create challenges of patience and light to the average photographer,  but I have learned to adapt to these conditions well through the years and cherish the opportunities presented to me.

This is not a situation for the blue-sky and fair-day sun loving photographer.  In fact,  I much prefer an overcast day with even lower light conditions to avoid the “hot-spots” of a bright sun filtering though the foliage creating a “contrast” of havoc for capturing my subjects.  However, sometimes the natural light filtering through,  but muted somewhat,  can create a lovely scene as the with the warbler pictured above, “sun-kissed” to highlight the iridescence of his plumage.

Breeding plumage male Black-throated Blue Warbler
Michaux State Forest,  Pennsylvania

he Black-throated Blue warbler is truly a favorite of the “New World” warblers and I never tire of photographing them as challenging as they can be just to locate and see,  more-less actually capture their portraits. My process is comprised of slowly traversing the forest roads and listening for their song,  and then just patiently sitting in my vehicle and waiting for an opportunity to have a visual encounter which more times than not can be futile.

Listen to the song of the breeding Male below:

“Lady with an Attitude”,   Black-throated Blue Female
Michaux State Forest,   Pennsylvania

he images of the Black-throated Blue warbler presented here were photographed entirely within the Michaux State Forest along my infamous “Warbler Road”,  shared by both Adams and Cumberland Counties.  I can remember when I first pursued this species,   I was told by several members of the birding community that I would have to travel farther north to find them and in their more desirable habitat.   Not one to argue,  I just quietly grinned knowing I had heard the song of this species on numerous occasions,  and right here within this forest.   I figured I would just make this “my little secret”.   After all,  “it was their loss and not mine”.

BTBW frolicking in a Rhododendron thicket along a stream…
Michaux State Forest,   Pennsylvania

ver the years of birding and avian photography within the Michaux State Forest,  I have noted locations favored by certain species and kept documentation of my sightings and photographic success.   Ironically, many of the species return to the same locations year after year,  although perhaps not exactly to the same spot,   but often within a circumference of 50 or so yards.   And of course,  this is based on ecosystems and habitats.

The majority of the Black-throated Blue warblers I have located in this forest prefer the Mountain Laurel thickets just above the bordering thickets of Rhododendron along the many steams.  This habitat is favored by other warbler species as well,  but the laurel seems to have to be present for this particular warbler species.   Because of the rise in elevation the song always appears distant and catching a glimpse of them is often difficult.   So,  the waiting game begins and eventually one will come down and within a close enough range for a photograph or two.

Quite the Camera Ham.,,, Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
Michaux State Forest,  Pennsylvania

he Michaux State Forest is not the place for the “impatient” birder or photographer trying to pad a list with multiple species or looking for a quantity of captures.  I have shared mention of this forest with many and most become frustrated simply because of an “ants in their pants” attitude and they easily become bored.  And this is the case for many our forest with huge expanses of acreage that can intimidate one with more habitat to choose from by our feathered friends than their actual populations within the forest itself.  But for those genuinely interested in prolonged observations of behavior and excellent photographic opportunities,  folks who visit regularly and learn productive locations will reap rich rewards. This includes an in-depth dedicated study of the species they pursue as well.

Black-throated Blue Warbler,  (Setophaga caerulescens)
Michaux State Forest,  Pennsylvania

nce again, preferred habitat is the key.  The BTBW photographed above was foraging in a small tree high on a ridge-top above a laurel thicket leading down to a stream.  The image was captured along Wirt Road in Michaux.

The preferred breeding habitat of this warbler includes large tracts of mature deciduous and mixed evergreen-deciduous woodlands with a thick understory of shrubs to include rhododendron,  mountain laurel and hobblebush.   Farther west,  in the higher Appalachians,  they mostly occur at elevations of 2,600–5,250 feet,  however here in Michaux,  around 1000 feet and above,  I have yet to find them lower and in the valleys, except during the fall migration.

Breeding populations can be found as far south as the mountains of Georgia,  northward through the Appalachians into south eastern Canada,  Wintering takes place in the Caribbean, Cuba, and the Virgin Islands where they inhabit dense tropical forests,  woodlands,  shade-coffee plantations.   Food sources include spiders, flies, and caterpillars found in the shrub layers and lower forest canopies.

BTBW  Michaux State Forest,  Pennsylvania

s  I have mentioned before photographing woodland warblers is not something to be pursued by the “Sun Bunnies” of digital photography and I always laugh especially on social media where these people tend to hang out about the lack of light or “I didn’t go” because the “light sucked”.  And I kind of like that because it keeps the crowds down and the riffraff away.

Black-throated Blue Warbler male in song

he majority of woodland warbler photography takes place under an often-dense forest canopy and in the understory and many times the use of a low-powered flash of which most new photographer are not well versed in the operation of this tool, especially with the subjects consideration in mind and small songbirds should never see the use of flash extenders like the “Bitter-Beamer” and yes I mean “Bitter”.

And a special note to the birding community about the use of flash which many will condemn based on their lack of knowledge of operation,  and that is the flash is NEVER used as a “main light source”,  but only as a very low-powered gentle highlighter and for warming colors.  To this day and with my experience,

I have yet had a subject even realize it was going off as the gentle pulse of light is faster than the camera shutter itself which is often in tenths or hundredths of a second.   All of my flash work is accomplished through the ETTL method or Evaluative Through the Lens metering where ambient light takes precedence over the flash and is balanced to the proper exposure.

he majority of my warbler photography is accomplished my vehicle (presently an olive-drab green Jeep Wrangler) using it as a “hide” and shooting off a beanbag from the window as support.   Once in a while, especially if the birds are higher above me,   I will get out and use a tripod and gimbal normally keeping close to the vehicle to lessen any distraction.  However,  I prefer to keep my subjects at eye level for a more intimate capture.   The “zoom” lens is my tool of choice as and over the past years, the Sigma 150-600mm Sports as the much larger prime telephoto lenses can be heavy,  cumbersome in tight quarters, and the birds are often closer than their minimum focusing distance will allow,  and often missing many opportunities for shots.  I use a range of Canon bodies from the crop sensors to full frame of the EOS 7D Mark II to 5D Mark III and IV series.

A handsome male BTBW going “Vogue”
Michaux State Forest.  Pennsylvania

Happy Birding and Photography everyone!

Palm Warbler, Yellow (Spring)  Setophaga palmarum. hypochrysea
Kowomu Trail,  Carroll County,  Maryland

Like the Magnolia Warbler,  the Palm Warbler’s name has very little to do with its preferred habitat.   The Palm Warbler was named by Johann Friedrich Gmelin,  a German naturalist, botanist, entomologist, herpetologist,  and malacologist based on a specimen collected on Hispaniola,  a Caribbean island with a lot of palm trees.  (I added the Palm tree by the title for humor and a splash of color)   Despite its name, the Palm Warbler is among the northernmost breeding of any Setophaga species.   Only the Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) has a more northerly breeding distribution.

Palm Warbler, Yellow (Fall)  Setophaga palmarum. hypochrysea
Willoughby Run,  Adams County,  Pennsylvania

Setophaga palmarum,  or Palm Warbler include two subspecies,  Setophaga palmarum. Hypochrysea  Yellow)  and eastern pictured here,  and Setophaga palmarum. Palmarum,  or western,  which is much duller in color and are easily identified in the field.   They comprise two separate breeding grounds,  but may overlap on their wintering grounds.

Spring,  Kowomu Trail,  Carroll County,  Maryland

Breeding grounds of the Eastern (Yellow) and the Western Palm warblers can be separated by the city of Ottawa Ontario with Hypochrysea to the east of and Palmarum to the west of.   Favored habitat includes the bogs and fens of Boreal forests within the northernmost United States extending into the northernmost reaches of Canada.    Audubon’s scientist through studies,  project that the Palm Warbler could loose 83% of it’s breeding range due to Climate Change in the future.

Fall,  Willoughby Run,  Adams County,  Pennsylvania

As far as breeding vegetation,  the Palm prefers sphagnum bogs and fens with scattered cedar, tamarack, and spruce trees.   The western Palm will also breed within the dry pine barrens of boreal forests which include ground covers of blueberry, bear-berry,  and sweet fern.

During migration preferred habitats include old hedgerows,  edges of streams and ponds,  overgrown fields, and open pastures.

The Palm Warbler,  including both eastern and western,  winter primarily along the Gulf Coast and southeastern states and Caribbean islands.   See the map to the right denoting it’s ranges from breeding north to wintering south.

Spring,  Kowomu Trail,  Carroll County,  Maryland

As I noted above with the title “Just Passing Through”,  seeing,  more less photographing the Palm Warbler here in the Mid-Atlantic states is a matter of luck,  and only during the short duration of spring and fall migration while the birds are passing through.   I have caught a few glimpses of this species during winter visits home to Texas and Louisiana and along the Gulf coastal plains and their wintering grounds.

A year back, Spring of 2018, and  while searching for Yellow and Blue-winged Warblers along the Kowomu Trail,  a narrow gravel back-road,  just south of the Mason Dixon Line in Carroll County Maryland,  I was amazed to find a solitary Palm in full breeding plumage perched in a small tree along the roadside.   He gave me ample opportunities for some quality photography.   This was the first I’d ever seen in breeding plumage and during the spring.   “It was a marvelous occasion”.

Listen to the song of the breeding Palm Warbler below.  It’s a weak and dry trill,  like that of Chipping Sparrow,  but slower.

Fall,  Willoughby Run,  Adams County,  Pennsylvania

The Fall of 2013 allowed me the first opportunity for good images of the Palm during the Fall migration with the images pictured here.   Warblers were not my targeted species,  but migrating raptors instead along one of my favorite haunts,  just west of the borough of historic Gettysburg and its Civil War battlefield,   through the Freedom Township Grasslands.   I was following Red Rock Road along Willoughby Run,  a small meadow stream and noticed a flock of small birds isolated to several small trees along the brushy creek-side and stopped to take a gander.  I observed a bird constantly flicking and cocking its tail and strutting on the small branches with a backdrop of orange and gold colors.   I wasn’t about to let this opportunity pass and quickly started taking photographs.   I had no idea what the species was as this was my first introduction to the Palm and waited to get home and post-process the images and do a little research.   What a “fun” discovery this turn out to be.  Yet another warbler to add to my growing list!

Fall,  Willoughby Run,  Adams County,  Pennsylvania

Photographically speaking …

Of all my small bird photography,  Warblers are my favorite and a glowing passion!   For this series,  and during both the Fall and Spring sessions with this species,   I was awarded with lovely “natural light” with a muted sun due to a thin overcast,  which I prefer and I couldn’t have asked for better conditions.   Most of my warbler photography takes place under dense forest canopies which requires the use of flash at a minimum.

The Spring images were captured with the Canon EOS 7D II and the Sigma 150-600 Sports telephoto lens.

The Fall images were captured with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN and the big Canon EF 400mm f2.8L

All images were captured from a beanbag from my vehicle window,  and one of my favorite methods for a minimal disturbance to my subjects and to their well-being.

Spring,  Kowomu Trail,  Carroll County,  Maryland

Happy Birding and Photography Everyone!

Take a stroll down the “Warbler Road” of south-central Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest, and listen to a melody  and perhaps even observe one of its most prolific breeding songbirds,
the Hooded Warbler …

Hooded Warbler male in song…

ou may be disappointed if you do a Google search for a “Warbler Road” in Pennsylvania as it “doesn’t exist”.  However,  you will find a listing for one in the State of Virginia which is actually a series of interconnecting forest roads traveling about 13 miles through the Appalachian Mountains beginning at Milepost 78.4 of the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Sunset Field overlook,  then continuing to its end at the Arcadia Boat launch along the James River’  and all of these roads take on different and original names too.   Like with Virginia,  my Warbler Road,  is just a “pet” name applied to a certain route or routes that traverse favorable and popular breeding habitats for a host of these small and often colorful songbirds.

Hooded Warbler female…

o without further delay,  I will cut to the chase and “note” that “my” Warbler Road is actually Milesburn Road which can be accessed  along PA 233,  north of US30,   and beginning just north of the Caledonia State Park and near the old dam breast of the reclaimed Chambersburg reservoir and travels approximately 7 miles north to its end and the junction with Shippensburg Road.   Once past the popular Long Pine reservoir and junction with Birch Run Road,   Milesburn becomes less traveled and more serene.  Milesburn Road is gravel,  but well maintained most of the year apart from winter periods with heavy snow.

irding and especially avian photography in our state forest system can be a challenge mostly due to the sheer volume of acreage and the dispersion of the different species throughout,  unlike smaller and more condensed woodlands and parks where breeding habitat is limited isolating the birds.  However,  a little time researching the preferred habitat of your targeted species can bring success.

he subject of this post, the Hooded Warbler is no different from other members of the Parulidae family and has it’s favored habitat preferences to include the thick shrubby understory of our eastern forests.   I have also discovered over the years that the Rhododendron thickets along small streams seem to be a favorite within the Michaux State Forest.  “Warbler Road” (Milesburn) presents abundant opportunities for this habitat following a couple of small streams along its route in several areas bordered by the Rhododendron pictured in the image above.

inding the Hooded Warbler,  or any warbler for that matter involves slow attentive walks or driving,  constant listening and a lot of patience.  Once you hear the song,  visually locating the bird is another challenge.  This warbler’s haunts are seemingly always under a heavy forest canopy,  low light and within the thick of things,  and they blend into their surroundings very well.  The trick is to look for any movement within the foliage, even ever so slight,   and to keep your visual scanning “low”.  You will hardly find the Hooded frolicking or foraging more than 10 feet above the ground.

nother interesting thing with the Hooded Warbler,  and like the Ovenbird,  there really isn’t a perfect time of day to catch it in song.   They seem to vocalize throughout the day,  unlike most of the other warblers that tend to favor only the morning hours.  I mentioned “driving” above which is one way I locate many of my avian subjects,  by very slowly creeping along in my Jeep, all windows down and listening.  I’m not sure is this is true or not,  but ironically the sound of gravel under the tires while slowly moving seems to “trigger” a response from this species and perhaps even a few others.   I know this is true with some of the rail species on the gravel roads of some of my favorite wildlife refuges in the south. True or not, I’ve located more birds with this method over time than taking long hikes in the woods.

hotographing warblers or any small bird under a “dark” forest canopy is not an easy chore and can at times be quite frustrating.  It’s truly not a place for “sun worshiping” photographers who complain continuously about the slightest lack of perfect light.   You won’t find a “Golden Hour” here either.  But these conditions do provide a nice layer of “flat” light,  void of any harsh shadows unless a ray of that nasty “sun-stuff” pops through a hole in the canopy which can wreak havoc on the camera’s metering for exposure.

I usually add a very low powered flash just to add a bit of warmth,  slightly highlight  and add a touch of sparkle to my subjects’ eyes.  And I NEVER use any type of flash extender or magnifier whatsoever!   I literally despise the damn things and the effect they have on wildlife and birds at a close range.  The extenders’ only have their place with distant subjects and used properly.  My avian subjects hardly,  if ever notice the gentle pulse of light from my speedlights and they’re never used as a “main light” source.   In fact, most of the folks viewing my images cannot detect any use of flash unless they know exactly what to look for.

arlier this Spring I attempted to capture a small bit of video of the Hooded in full High Definition and with sound of the warbler’s song. This was my first attempt at this and “somehow” I managed to accomplish a “down and dirty” version which I took into Adobe Premiere Pro,  edited and mixed in a bit of eccentric and quirky music to accompany the warbles song.  I must say it was fun!  It’s filmed at 24 frames per second with a shutter-speed double the frame rate at 1/50sec. The ISO was 640 and was shot in C Log for a bit of a cinematic appearance.  Captured with the Canon EOS 7D2 and the Sigma 150-600 Sports lens at 400 mm. Click on the Image below.. It will open a new and separate tab.

he video above should familiarize you with the song of the Hooded Warbler and what to listen for although it may occur with slight variations.  The call is a simple tick – tick – tick.

Other common species found along Milesburn or “Warbler Road” include the Black-throated Blue warbler, Black-throated Green warbler, Worm-eating warbler and Black and White warbler.  I have heard others including the Cerulean warbler near the northern end,  high above along a ridge top but never laid eyes on it.  Besides the warbler’s,  other songbirds include the Scarlet Tanager and the Wood Thrush along with others.  Enjoy your journey down Warbler Road!

Happy Birding and Photography!

For the past five years,  the coming of spring brought excitement and anticipation to the arrival of one of my favorite warblers to a location very close to my home.  Many of you have heard me mention,  or read about through my prior posts,  loving references to the Hanover Watershed Wildlife Management Area which shares its acreage with both York County Pennsylvania and Carroll County Maryland along the Mason-Dixon Line.  There is a special section of this area that sits on the Pennsylvania side just below the MD state line which was a clear-cut,  freshly planted with pine seedlings along with a thorny and brushy under story that seemed to be a highly prized breeding habitat of the Prairie Warbler.

This area had been a prior favorite of mine for the Indigo Bunting and the numerous sparrows present.  I kept hearing multiple symphonies’ of a rapidly ascending sweet trill including a “check note” that I just couldn’t quite put my finger on.  I was at that time, still very new to birding and especially new world warblers.

This was also a familiar tune that I had heard near the scrubby and wooded areas of the Gettysburg National Battlefield during some of my visits,  but I hadn’t laid eyes on this songster at neither location.
So I spent an evening listening to the song of every warbler on my iBird smart phone app until I put a name to the sound.

A few days later I returned to my little spot in the watershed to see if I cold get a visual and capture a few images of this beautiful woodland warbler.  The area covers about 2,000 feet of length and 670 feet of width along a busy roadway running north-east.  The location is posted so any observing or photography had to be done from the vehicle along the road shoulder and when the weather is dry, the grassy shoulder is suitable to get off the road completely and safely out of the way of traffic.

There is however,  signs warning “No Parking”,  but luckily the caretakers of the property know both me and my vehicle well and afford me tolerance for my undertakings.  The entire watershed is posted and not open to the public with the exception of the hunting area on the Maryland side which is by permit only, so all birding must be done off the roadways;  the majority of which are gravel with very light traffic.

I started my exploration at the southern most corner of the property and there I heard the first song of the Prairie that morning.  I also knew what I was now looking for so spotting the bird was much easier and faster and his location gave me multiple opportunities for photography.  It’s funny how they seemed not to be bothered by me sitting there quietly enjoying and capturing their presence.  I must have heard,  observed and photographed at least 6 or 7 birds along that stretch of road during the morning hours that day along with the one pictured right perched on the top of a pine sapling.  And that didn’t include the other birds I had either heard or spotted farther into the property.

“Peek-A-Boo” with the Prairie Warbler

How some of our warblers get their names behooves me considering the Magnolia has noting to do with the magnolia tree and the Prairie doesn’t live in,  or is associated with open prairies. The Prairie prefers scrubby areas,  grown over brushy pastures,  young pines and breeds in dry old clearings, edges of forest, and sandy Pine Barrens with undergrowth of scrub oaks, and notably on ends of slopes and ridges.  Now that I come to think of it, I have heard this song over in the New Jersey Pinelands while photographing wild orchids at several of the bogs.  Some of the permanent residents of this species in Florida prefer the coastal mangrove forests.  It also takes a liking to power-line right-of-ways,  Christmas tree farms and abandoned orchards.

“Lurking in the Shadows” A Prairie Warbler captured with the flash..

Interesting facts include that Prairie Warbler males typically return to the same breeding territory used in previous years.  This  species is monogamous and will typically find a new mate each year. The female might leave after a nesting attempt with one male and attempt to mate with another male; and then some males may also mate with multiple females in non-adjacent territories  Pairing normally occurs approximately one week after the male returns to his territory with breeding occurring from mid May to Mid July.

“Birds and Blooms” …. What an appropriate image..

The Prairie warbler’s breeding range encompasses most of the eastern United States from eastern Texas,  north through southern Missouri,  northeast through southern New England, and south to northern Florida.  There are also isolated populations north into Michigan which are listed as “endangered” and continue into southern Ontario.  The non-breeding range is almost exclusively within the Caribbean islands,  with a few birds holding a permanent residence within the extreme south-eastern US (Florida).

“King of the Thorns” no problem with his perch whatsoever…

The Prairie warbler will begin breeding within its first year and will breed annually throughout its lifespan average of 3.5 years to a maximum potential of 10.5 years.  The female will normally lay a clutch of 3 to 5 eggs and though only one brood is typical,  she may lay an additional clutch. Post-fledgling mortality in this species is very high,  but mortality from post-fledge to independence is quite low at only 18%…

“Sing A Happy Song”…. After the “attentive” pose above, he let out a tune… Listen Below:

As with so many of our warbler species,  the greatest threat is habitat loss caused by development and “clean” farming.  Habitat is also critical within its winter range and much has been lost to wood cutting,  agriculture and of course more development.  Besides habitat loss, Wind Turbines along migration routes and feral cats have also taken a toll,  especial with the latter in Florida.  I can remember a trip to the 10,000 Islands Region (southwest coast) and the Florida Keys where I witnessed an abundance of feral cats.  I counted almost two dozen at one motel we stayed at in Marathon.  Hurricanes and children hunting with sling-shots is also a major threat in the Caribbean.

“Rear View” …. A nice over the shoulder pose

Another pair of serious threats to the Prairie Warbler,  like many of the warbler family,  is the Brown-headed cowbird which acts as a nest parasite to this species and can cause the female to leave the nest completely.  Then finally predators such as snakes and corvids take their toll. In fact predators are responsible for about 80% of nesting failures…  Like many of our New World Warblers and other songbirds,  populations have been declining over the past years.

“Face to Face” with the Prairie Warbler …. What more could one ask for !

All of the images presented throughout this post were captured at the same location over the past few years.  However,  as I had mentioned before, this little jewel can be found almost anywhere in his suitable habitat.  The population in my favorite spot has been declining somewhat as the planted pines continue to grow taller shading out the sun dependent brushy under story.  But, I will look for them again this coming spring as I always do…

Happy Birding to All!

Avian Photography is truly a passion and I honestly have to say,  of all the species I photograph,  the colorful and tiny wood warbler has to be my favorite.  The majority of my friends and  peers much prefer the majestic “raptor” and owls as their subjects of choice. While I enjoy photographing those as well,  and especially the rarest Accipiters and Buteos (Hawks) to my region;  I find trying to follow the tiniest of bird with a long telephoto lens; where the word “still” is a total misnomer in and out of the tightest of natural cover, “the ultimate photographic challenge”.  Then you add forever changing light,  from one extreme to another,  creating an exposure nightmare and adding a final touch to the feat.

“Sitting Pretty”
A Michaux State Forest Black and White goes “Vogue” for the camera

This post will be the beginning of a series dedicated to the “Woodland Warbler” and contain the species I have been fortunate enough to photograph;  and over time collect enough imagery to keep things interesting.  Just photographing these birds is only half of the challenge whereas establishing the proper identification for each can be the difficult part.   Spring and breeding season identifications can be as simple as just looking them up in reference materials such as a pocket guide-book or on a smart-phone app.  Fall and migrating birds can create quite a bit of confusion with many species appearing similar,  or with some completely changing in appearance.  In some cases,  one has to really pay attention to some very subtle differences between the “look-a-likes”…   All in all, this is what keeps it fun and interesting.

Black and White warbler photographed deep within the
Rhododendrons of the Michaux State Forest in Pennsylvania.

One of my favorites,  and one of the most prolific breeders to my region is the Black and White Warbler,  which is the only member of the genus Mniotilta;  which means “moss plucking” and refers to the bird’s habit of probing for insects.  The Black and White warbler is also one of the first to arrive to the breeding grounds which includes from southern Canada south through the eastern U.S., and south to Florida.  It winters along the Gulf Coast, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.  I often see wintering populations during my Christmas trips home to the Texas Gulf Coast

“Just Hanging Around”

The Black and White warbler forages unlike any other of the warbler species,  with the movements of crawling up and down tree trunks or under or over branches like the nuthatch. With the unusual long hind toe and claw on each foot that allows them to move securely on the surface of tree bark,  they were once referred to as the Black and White Creeper. However,  the Brown Creeper can only move up the tree whereas the Black and White warbler can climb or descend in any direction.

Black and White Creeper???

Black and White warblers breed in both purely deciduous and mixed deciduous-conifer forests with a preference to large mature trees with an under-story of smaller trees and shrubs.  During the migration and winter,  this warbler can be found in a variety of forest types as well as woodland borders, gardens, and coffee plantations.

An “Attentive Pose” by this Black and White Warbler
photographed in Dorchester County Maryland

During the spring and after they form a pair,  the female will begin building the nest which is cup-shaped and is made of leaves and grasses.  The nests are constructed on the ground and normally at the base of a tree or next to a fallen log and are usually well concealed under dead leaves or branches.

Once the nest is finished,  the female will lay a clutch of 4 to 6 eggs which are white and with brown flecks in appearance.  The incubation period consists of 10 to 12 days.  The male will occasionally bring the female her meals during the incubation period.  After the chicks hatch, both parents will assume the duties of feeding the young and defending the nest

“Belting Out a Tune”
The song of the Black and White Warbler is commonplace
in the Michaux State Forest of Pennsylvania … Listen Below:

The chicks will normally fledge and leave the nest after 8 to 12 days,  but will remain within their parent’s territory for 2 to 3 weeks before setting out on their own.  Most Black and White warbler pairs will raise only one brood per year.  However,  some breeding pairs are able to raise two broods per summer.  Black-and-white warblers are diurnal (active during the day) and all are migratory.

“Wee-see – Wee-see – Wee-see – Wee-see” 
sings another Michaux Black and White Warbler

The Black and White Warbler is a fairly common bird of the forest with a present population of about 140,000,000 across their range.  The species has a preference for large forested areas and one of the major threats facing them is forest fragmentation.  Nest parasitism by cowbirds and as insectivores,  pesticide poisoning is another major concern for this species…  As a “nocturnal migrant”,  Black-and-white Warblers are a frequent victim of collisions with glass,  towers,  and wind turbines.

“Familiar Territory”
A fall migrant grants me a sweet pose in my beloved and close to home,
Hanover Watershed Wildlife Management Area

At present,  Black and White warblers are not threatened or endangered.  However,  they are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act.  May we keep the populations safe and happy!