7 June 2007 - PROW nest jars along Alum Creek - Tuttle

E-mail and 2 photos of nests from Dick Tuttle.
Photo of Prothonotary with inch worm for the young by Frank Germann.

Hello Everyone,

The lake was angry, my friend, as I launched my canoe from Hogback Road to check ten pairs of Prothonotary Warbler nest jars along a one-mile stretch of lake shore and creek bank. The lake crossing was exciting and challenging since I had to battle a stiff wind from the southwest in order to reach my first set of jars along the calm waters of the shelter shore. There, I found my prize, a flash of yellow as a female warbler flushed from her nest of five eggs. Using known incubation periods of 12 - 14 days and an unknown first egg date, the eggs are expected to hatch between June 14 - 19, then the parents will put on quite a show as they feed their growing family.

I am extremely careful not to jar the jars as I glide to the poles. There, I snap carabiners together to tie my canoe seat to the pole.

Two stops later, I found five healthy Tree Swallows seven days old in the third set of jars located along the north shore of Willow Island at the creek mouth. Those of us that watch the Osprey family on platform No. One, also watch the swallows squeeze in and out of their nest jar when the Ospreys are not putting on a show.

Once on the creek itself, I found a very hyper male warbler singing while claiming two sets of jars. So far, he has yet to find a mate. A house wren has also failed to find a mate in another location along a smaller feeder creek to the west of Alum Creek.

The last pair of jars holds another prize, three hatched warblers. Unfortunately, two eggs from this nest did not hatch. The nestlings' primary wing feathers were still in their sheaths, making the young four or five days old according to the Birds of North America, Species Profile No. 408, by Lisa J. Petit. Therefore, after a short nestling period of only 11 days, the family is expected to fledge June 13. A buckeye tree and a large grapevine wait to conceal them once they make their first fluttering flight. Good luck warblers!

So far, my effort to provide nesting opportunities for PROW at Alum Creek has been worth it. The birds have accepted my offer and I have talked to several boating "units" of kayakers and canoeists that have mentioned seeing "little yellow birds" flying from the jars. Colorful nesting birds are part of the adventure along Alum Creek.

Warbler on, Dick Tuttle