A “skulking” Connecticut Warbler. Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren
Apparently birders prize sightings or listenings of the Connecticut Warbler. A rare bird, it is secretive ("skulky" is the Wisconsin DNR's word) and breeds in stands of black spruce or mature jack pine in far northern Wisconsin, the southern end of its breeding range.
It meanders slowly across the ground of its habitat looking for tasty morsels, a behavior I can identify with.
Hard enough to see a rare bird, much harder if the bird ceases to exist. An unexpectedly severe decline in the bird's population has its survival in peril. By the way, the discovery of the decline occasions another nod of gratitude to citizen scientists. The participants in the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas ll documented the substantial decrease in the number of nesting warblers in Wisconsin.
Please see the WI DNR's description of the many challenges this bird faces and, much more importantly, what we can do about them (link): https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/63561
Connecticut Warbler. Photo by Tom Benson FCC
As always, some comments:
More gratitude to the Bayfield County Forest for its cooperation with the DNR to improve breeding habitat for the Connecticut Warbler. The six faithful readers of this column will remember my affection for Wisconsin's County Forests as allies in conservation and Bayfield is one of the best. This is also a good example of why Stewardship support of County Forest land purchases is helpful.
We can help the Connecticut warbler by supporting the Natural Resources Foundation of WIsconsin (NRF) and, in particular, the spring Birdathon. NRF is funding efforts to preserve and improve critical habitat for the warbler in its Wisconsin breeding territory and its winter homes in South America. The Birdathon has added those activities to the list of those it supports. Many Madison Audubon members form Birdathon teams or donate. We now have another reason to do both.
This little bird migrates 10,000 (!!???!!!) miles in its round trip to survive. That alone earns all the help we can possibly give it.
Take care,
Topf Wells, Madison Audubon advocacy committee chair
