Post #2426478

With massively swarming termites and the largest influx of migratory birds this season, I figured things would get interesting in The Ramble in NYC's Central Park last Tuesday (5/5). I was not disappointed. Here are a few of the Wood Warblers (Parulidae) present. Wood Warblers get their name due to early naturalists' confusion due to the "New World" group's similarity to "Old World" warblers, although they are not closely related and most do not have the melodious songs of their Eurasian counterparts. As the other element of the name indicates, most of this group occupies varying woodland niches, some broader and some narrower. Niche breadth accounts for the adaptability of some -- like the Yellow-rumped Warbler -- to our local environment. Overall, the group's reliance on forested habitats leaves them vulnerable to decline and extinction due to deforestation and climate change. Those at most risk include the Blackpoll Warbler, shown here, the Worm-eating Warbler and Canada Warbler, also observed in our area. If you are in Mexico, Canada or the U.S., to see how warblers and other birds will fare in your area under varying models of climate change, have a look at Cornell and Audubon's online Survival By Degrees app. #birds #birding #biodiversity #urbannature #birdphotography #wildlifephotography