Any updates on the nesting Cerulean Warblers?
Kathy
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From:
Dave Zumeta <[log in to unmask]>
To:
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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
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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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