A few birds from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
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Blackpoll Warbler:Blackpoll Warbler Kuikaman'ayaaq For such tiny birds these little guys loom huge among warblers. They are, in fact, the champion long-distant migrants of all warblers, with a round trip by LYK Delta Blackpolls of between 11-12 thousand miles from their nesting territories in the Delta to their winter habitat in western Brazil and northern Bolivia and back again. What is remarkable about the migration of Alaskan Blackpolls, is that it is not done in a straight line from north to south. Instead, in late August most of the birds that nest in Alaska move east across the boreal forests of Canada, ending up in the Maritime provinces and the eastern seabord of the U.S. From there they wait for a strong northerly tailwind to begin a long overwater flight that takes them to northern South America. Most of these birds fly nonstop for more than 72 hours until they reach landfall along the coast of Venezuela or Guyana, an overocean trip of approximately 2000 miles, a flight with no rest, no food, no water, during which each bird will flap its wings almost three million times. Think of it this way, if one of these birds were burning gasoline, it would be getting 720,000 miles per gallon! Now, that's amazing. In spring Kuikaman'ayaaq takes its time returning to their breeding grounds in the north country, leisurely stopping in the West Indies and Florida. They then continue up through the interior of North America well behind other similar species, thus assuring they won't have to compete with them for the same insect food source on the way north. When they finally arrive on the nesting grounds, the females make up for lost time, immediately returning to their nest site of the previous year. There she mates with the male holding the territory closest to her old nest site, whether or not he is already mated. This form of polygyny happens in 10-30 percent of matings. Nest building begins later in the season than among other warblers, and the bulky open cup nest is built by the female about 2-12 feet above the ground next to the trunk of a low spruce or alder. As the name Kuikaman'ayaaq indicates, it may be near a creek or river. Four or five whitish eggs with brown and lavender spots are laid and incubated for about 12 days by the female. During this period the male brings food to the female on the nest. After the eggs hatch the young are fed insects and spiders by both parents. The fledglings leave the nest about 12 days after hatching when they begin to fend for themselves. At first, they continue to be fed by their parents, but very soon learn what it takes to feed themselves and fatten up for their long migration south. 12,000 miles is a long long way to go. If any warbler deserves a post script, it's this one. Its scientific name is Dendroica striata, meaning "striped tree dweller." Its common English moniker, Blackpoll warbler, means the warbler with a black cap. Although the name "warbler" refers to "singing with trills, runs, or quavers," this doesn’t really describe the Blackpoll's call at all. His is more like that of a sewing machine, sisisisisiSISISISISIsisisisisis. So next time you’re out on the river or in sparse woods or brushy tundra, listen for that unique sound. Then get your binocs and watch.  |
