[wisb] Yellow Warbler sighting
- From: just4birds@xxxxxxx
- To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:26:42 -0600
I've followed WisBirdN almost since its inception, but I've never posted
directly before. Others have reposted for me in the past, but I believe
the rules require me to introduce myself.
I live in Chippewa Falls with my wife Sue and we have been actively
birding since the mid 1960s. I currently help band at Beaver Creek
Reserve in Fall Creek. We have birded across the country, in Europe,
Australia, and Central America. Our Chippewa Falls yard list currently
stands at 182 species. My family and most of my friends probably
consider me more of a bird nerd than the average birder.
I am posting this because Mike M. mentioned getting a video of a Yellow
Warbler taken recently in Wisconsin and Bob D. indicated that it would
go into the records if submitted and accepted. The video was mine and I
just sent in documentation of this record. Even with all my experience,
or perhaps because of it, I originally misidentified this bird as an
Orange-crowned Warbler because I didn't consider even the remote
possibility of a Yellow Warbler this late. Thanks to Tom Schultz for his
feedback.
My wife first spotted the warbler last Friday just before we were
leaving for the weekend. I managed to get a couple seconds of poor
quality video in the minute or so it was around. I quickly edited and
sent the video to Tom before we left. Although we were struck by how
yellow this bird appeared, when I checked my email after we returned I
was surprised by Tom's reply. I later sent still images taken from the
video to several others, and I've learned that Tom has also shared my video.
I have gotten a number of replies with other possible identifications,
but I am convinced this bird is indeed a Yellow Warbler. I was thinking
of suggesting to Ryan Brady the possibility of posting still images as a
quiz.
Since the bird is out of the bag so to speak, it is too late for that now.
Just for the record, although the video shows the bird on a suet feeder,
it was not seen feeding there. It did not appear to be sick in any way.
It spent about 1 minute in view, actively foraging and feeding by
gleaning on the small branches of undergrowth in our wooded yard. I hope
it was heading south and doing so in a hurry. Otherwise, I don't give
much for it's chances as I sit and watch the snow blowing and
accumulating outside today.
Bruce Steger
Chippewa Falls
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