Sharp-shinned Hawk

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk, by Steve Thornhill

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Seven year old female Prothonotary Warbler returns to Northwest River Park

by Guest Blogger Shirley Devan


Monitoring Prothonotary Warblers at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake is well underway with a high occupancy rate in the 100 boxes spread around this bald cypress-lined river.

Since mid-April, volunteer licensed bander Shirley Devan has captured 16 female Prothonotary Warblers – 9 recaputured females banded in prior years or earlier this year and 7 newly banded birds.

May 5 excitement came at box 4 where we recaptured “Chelsea," a seven year old female Prothonotary Warbler. This female was originally banded as a second year bird June 14, 2009 at box 5 by either Renee Hudgins or John Young. Most likely she hatched at Northwest River Park in 2008. She is 7 years old this year – remarkable longevity for a neotropical migrant.


May 19 we banded Chelsea’s four nestlings and their photo is shown here.

These warblers have two clutches per season and the first clutch is hatching now in mid May