5111rd@nvuxr.UUCP (R. DITCH) (02/05/86)
>> Subject: Wintering Myrtle Warblers >> From: seb@mtgzy.UUCP (s.e.badian) >> Path: nvuxa!nvuxh!pyuxv!pyuxww!gamma!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtgzy!seb >> Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ >> Newsgroups: net.rec.birds >> Date: Tue, 4-Feb-86 10:32:35 EST >> >> >> I have an immature myrtle warbler in my garden. I noticed her >> eating bayberry berries this morning. Since central Jersey seems to be >> the northern most part of the myrtle warbler's winter range I wonder- >> ed if I should put out some food that the little warbler would like >> to eat since the bayberries in my yard are going to run out soon. I >> know warblers eat bayberries and poison ivy berries in the winter. >> Anyone out there know of anything else I could toss out that this >> little bird could eat? (I don't really want to go out searching for >> a supply of poison ivy berries, if you know what I mean.) >> >> Thanks for any advice, >> Sharon Badian >> ihnp4!mtgzz!mtgzy!seb A few points: 1. Don't worry about it; there is actually plenty of food for this bird in the area. It will not starve. 2. Based on your comments, I assume you are using the Golden guide "Birds of North America" by Robbins, et al, with the buff cover. You would be better off to get a current edition of Petersen's eastern field guide with updated species names and more detailed range maps. 3. The myrtle warbler is now considered conspecific with the western Audubon's warbler; they are called collectively "yellow-rumped warbler." 4. Petersen's range map shows them wintering throughout NJ, missing only the less mild north western corner of the state. They also winter coastally as far north as Rhode Island, and perhaps to Cape Cod. 5. Based on the results of the 84TH annual Christmas Bird Count results, the yellow-rump was the 21ST most common bird seen of the 200 species found in NJ, with over 10,000 individual birds reported on about 25 counts. Birds found in similar quantities include: dark-eyed junco; rock dove; brown-headed cowbird; house sparrow; and blue jay. 6. Are you sure it was an immature bird? I know that the Golden guide shows an "immature" female plumage, but almost all yellow-rumps appear this way in winter (again, see Petersen). Rich Ditch Bell Communications Research Red Bank, NJ