This Morning Outside

by Diane Porter

May 15 , 2011
Birdwatching Dot Com
Fairfield, Iowa

Cape May Warbler Does Tree Service

In late afternoon, the sun came out for a few minutes, and the woods burst with the songs of warblers. This male Cape May warbler worked the treetops.

Photo copyright 2011 Michael and Diane Porter

Right at the moment that the trees leaf out in spring, and insects wake up and start to eat the leaves, millions of warblers arrive from the south and feast on the tiny critters.

By the time the warblers reach their northern nesting grounds, they've passed through the entire continent, plucking billions of insects from the leaves. Nourishment for warblers. A huge help to the trees!

—Diane Porter

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