Today I monitored my Prothonotary Warbler nest box trail Area L at the Hoover Nature Preserve. Area L takes in Dustin Road and runs north along Little Walnut Creek. I located and recorded the nest site for 14 pairs of Prothonotary Warblers. Six are using my nest boxes and nine are using natural cavities. I had an additional 6 males singing but they were on the opposite side of Little Walnut Creek and I will need to wait until I check my boxes on the east side of the creek. One nest I located using a natural cavity was a special experience. I was standing next to a dead tree trying to see where a female was taking nest materials. I next felt wind against the back of my neck and turned slightly to watch as another female entered the cavity six inches from my head. I marked the territory and backed off. The female repeatedly came to the cavity carrying rootlets and moss while the male perched nearby and sang to declare his territory. To date I have located the nest site for 76 pairs of Prothonotaries at the north end of Hoover Reservoir for 2010.

Some additional species of interest I observed at Area L today were: Yellow-billed Cuckoo; Pileated Woodpecker; Acadian Flycatcher; Great Crested Flycatcher; White-eyed, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos; Cliff Swallows; Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Common Yellowthroat; and Baltimore Orioles.

But for every silver lining there seems to be a lead one too. The "Post Memorial Day Trash Heaving Contest" was standing room only. I picked up just over 100 gallons of trash, putting what I could fit into the car trunk for proper disposal and I left the third bag for the Water Rangers to pick up. I stop at putting it into the car. Why is it that they have the strenght to carry the full beer bottles into the preserve but lack the strenght to carry the empties back out. Gee guys, those big green, round-topped containers you can't find are a reallty neat place for trash. 

Charlie Bombaci
Hoover Nature Preserve




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