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May 2012

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Tue, 22 May 2012 16:26:57 -0400
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Today I began serious monitoring of nest sites for Prothonotary Warblers at
 the Hoover Nature Preserve. Up to now I have split my time between general
 birding for migrating species and watching where the male Prothonotaries
were  establishing territories. Migrant Prothonotaries were still a
possibility and my  friends in Ontario, Canada are wishfully hoping some of our
little guys continue  heading north. The Prothonotary Warbler is in deep trouble
in Canada.


I concentrated on Area M, Area N and Wiese Road in Galena. Starting with
the positive news. I located 24 males and 3 females at Area M/N. The back
part  is still too deep and muddy to safely negotiate although there were
plenty of  males singing from there. Most of the females were likely in their
nest box or  natural cavity busy with egg laying. I usually don't see too much
of them until  after lunch. As has been my habit in past years I placed
orange markers to help  locate territories, a habit that many local birders
appreciate as it saves them  time. Along the old road bed in Area N this
shouldn't be a problem as once when  I did a quick phish to try and locate a
singing male I immediately had 5 buzzing  around me. One came within several feet
and I noted it had a silver Department  of Interior band on its right leg.


Prothonotaries were singing along Big Walnut Creek from the bridge  over
the creek entering Galena from the East to the southern section where  mud and
high water stopped me. On the old road, the first is located in the  vernal
pool on the West side right after the steps. There are 3 along the shore
on the South side of the boardwalk and 1 in the wooded area just before the
boardwalk turns to the left.


Yellow-throated Warblers and Northern Parula were calling and putting on
their own show along Big Walnut Creek. Things appear to be going well as
usual  in Areas M and N.


Now the bad news. Wiese Road used to be a nice quiet tree and shrub lined
abandoned road that was home to Prothonotary Warblers, White-eyed Vireos,
Blue-winged Warblers and in one year a confirmed nesting pair of Black &
White Warblers. A few years ago the power company devastated the flora to the
West side of Wiese Road to enable them to better monitor their lines. The
birds  adjusted somewhat. Then a section of the Ohio to Erie Bikepath was run
right  along the water's edge at Wiese Road. The road was widened with a big
edge area.  A bench was put at the shore to view the reservoir. Now my
worse fears seem to  be coming true. I have yet to hear, never mind see, a
Prothonotary Warbler at  Wiese Road, the first time this has occurred since 1987.

And in Area N the less civilized of the fishermen (not a blanket charge
against all fishermen) are leaving so much trash that a few sections look like
a  landfill.

Charlie Bombaci
Hoover Nature Preserve

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