Catching site of the prothonotary
warbler is a treat for the eyes
March 3, 2003
by Jim Rapp. (Rapp is director of the Salisbury Zoo and is involved in numerous Coastal Bays Program projects. He is also working with Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences (DLITE) to create a Cape-to-Cape birding trail from Cape May to Cape Charles.)
If you paddle through the hardwood swamps of Delmarva in the
spring, take your binoculars and field guide with you. Keep your
eyes open for a small, golden flash darting among the low-lying branches in the swamp
or creek. Occasionally, the little flash will perch on a branch
above the dark water, and you will be rewarded with a glimpse of one of the most beautiful
birds of the shore's springtime swamp - the prothonotary warbler.
Bright yellow with blueish wings, these highly regarded fauna
make Worcester one of their top breeding areas on the East Coast.
The name "prothonotary" refers to medieval scribes in the Catholic
Church, who wore golden hoods as part of their ceremonial dress.
Headed back home this March, this diminutive yellow bird spends
the winter months in tropical mangrove swamps and lowland woods.
It migrates north early in the spring to spend the nesting season in wet woods and
along the borders of rivers and lakes of the eastern United States.
By late August, the prothonotary is again heading south for the tropics.
Males establish territories by loud singing and rambunctious displays
that include chasing and fighting other males. The prothonotary
is unique among
warblers with its habit of nesting in tree holes rather than out
in the open. After the male has attracted a female, she will build
the nest in a tree cavity, often a woodpecker hole, usually 5-10
feet above the water. The nest is filled deep with moss, leaves
and bark, and three to eight creamy pink eggs are laid. Both parents
assist in feeding the baby birds. Fledglings leave the nest after
10 days, and the young can even swim to a low branch if they fall
in the water. Some prothonotary pairs produce two broods each
nesting season.
Prothonotary warblers feed on aquatic insects, ants, caterpillars,
and spiders, as well as freshwater snails and some seeds. They
actively pursue their prey by searching the foliage of the forest,
peeping under loose bark, and hopping about on floating logs and
debris.
With the clearing of bottomland hardwood forests for timber and
the draining of swamps for agriculture and development, the prothonotary
warbler population has declined. In its remaining habitat, it is still
a fairly common summer resident. In addition to habitat loss,
the prothonotary is also affected by the nesting habits of the
brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Cowbirds lay their eggs
in warbler nests, and the parent warblers will then raise the
young cowbirds as if they were their own. Forest fragmentation
is the biggest factor in cow bird parasitism.
The prothonotary warbler's highest reported breeding density is
in Worcester County where its nesting density can reach 40 nests
per 100 acres along the Pocomoke River and Nassawango Creek.
Part of the National Estuary Program, the Maryland Coastal Bays Program is a cooperative effort between Worcester County, Berlin, and Ocean City which have come together to produce the first ever management plan for their bays.
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site Directory Copyright 2003 - Maryland Coastal Bays Program Questions? Email: mcbp@mdcoastalbays.org |