Any updates on the nesting Cerulean Warblers?
Kathy

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From:   Dave Zumeta <[log in to unmask]>
To:     [log in to unmask]
Date:   05/29/2014 09:09 PM
Subject:        [mou-rba] [mou-net] Cerulean Warbler nest and two singing 
Hooded Warblers at Murphy-Hanrehan Regional Park
Sent by:        Rare Bird Alert <[log in to unmask]>



In late morning on Monday, May 26, I observed a female Cerulean Warbler 
building a nest about 50 feet up on the branch of an oak tree almost 
directly over the trail about 100 feet south of trail marker 18 in 
Murphy-Hanrehan Regional Park. Over a 10 minute period, she returned to 
the nest location five times, apparently bringing nesting material and 
shaping the nest as she sat on it. A male Cerulean Warbler was singing 
nearby, as was a Blue-winged Warbler. The section of the trail where the 
nest is located is open for hiking and birding. According to Bruce Fall of 
the University of Minnesota, the foremost expert on the birds of 
Murphy-Hanrehan Regional Park, it appears that this is the first 
documented nest for Cerulean Warbler in the park. I am not certain if a 
nest of this species has been found previously in Scott County. 
  
On the same day I also saw a male Hooded Warbler and heard him 
singing just off the south side of the trail about 100 feet east of trail 
marker 10 (a Blue-winged Warbler, Veery, and Willow Flycatcher were all 
singing nearby), and I heard another Hooded Warbler singing north of the 
trail between trail markers 14 and 15. Once again, the areas where these 
birds were observed are open for hiking and birding. The latter location 
is easily accessed from the road along the northeast section of Murphy 
Lake. From the road take the horse trail for a few hundred feet to trail 
marker 14. Accessing trail markers 10 and 18 involve longer walks into the 
interior of the park. In the half mile of trail between trail markers 18 
and 10, I also observed six male Scarlet Tanagers, several of which were 
singing. 
  
If you look for these birds, please do not play tapes or pursue them off 
the trails. Cerulean Warbler males react very aggressively to tapes 
and remain agitated for quite some time after tapes are played. Please 
remember that both the Cerulean Warbler and Hooded Warbler are designated 
as Special Concern status on the State of MN Endangered Species list. Tape 
playing or otherwise disturbing these species is strongly discouraged. 
Take some insect repellent, as you may need it. 

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