Male Common Yellowthroat Warbler
Common Yellowthroat Warblers
In the spring and fall, being on the migratory route for many birds travelling up and down the Atlantic flyway, we are fortunate to be able to see, among the throngs, warblers.
One species of warbler, though, is here for much more of the year - the Common Yellowthroat Warbler lives here on our property for much of the year, coming here in early spring, nesting here, and remaining well into the fall, with a few even overwintering.
The Common Yellowtroat is a cheery little bird, but a bit tough to photograph as they are shy, but they are friendly enough once one gets to know their habitat, and do like to see who's making noise if you learn to "pish" them. I love seeing them here, the female a rather plain looking yellow and olive warbler, and the male with his face-mask. They are a part of Nova Scotia's marsh borderlands that we need to pay attention to, as their numbers are decreasing.
As people move into marsh areas and borders, more and more breeding ground is lost for these birds - something we need to think about and that we should be asking Government to do something about. Limiting how close to a marsh area homes may be built would be an excellent start.
Next time you are walking in any area with a marsh or wetland nearby, look for a small, quick little bird darting into the shrubs. You may get rewarded with a look at this little masked fellow - the Common Yellowthroat Warbler.
