With warm weather, lots of ‘firsts’ among animals, plants

My email In-box is overflowing with reports of “first” sightings of animals and plants — all of which are early this year. People have written to share their enthusiasm over seeing the first hepatica flowers of the year, hearing the first frogs in the ponds, or spotting the first pelicans on Nelson Lake. One of the “firsts” that caught my attention was news of the arrival of yellow-rumped warblers last week.

Yellow-rumped warblers are small songbirds that migrate en masse each spring from wintering grounds as far south as Central America to breeding grounds as far north as Canada. We get to see them in-between, and they are a real treat.

Like most warblers, yellow-rumps are hyper little guys. They are active all day long in the trees, deftly flying in and out of branches to catch insects. They snatch these carryout meals in midair. It’s pretty amazing to watch them maneuver their way through and around trees, never crashing into branches or each other.

Yellow-rumps eat insects throughout spring, summer and fall, but they shift their diet when necessary and will eat seeds, berries and other fruit. Bird-watcher Jack Pomatto of St. Charles said, “They are one of our 10 species that feed on poison-ivy (berries) with no apparent ill effects.” Pomatto also pointed out that their digestive system changes seasonally with their diet. The length of their long intestine increases in the winter time and shrinks come spring migration. The increased length, said Pomatto, is necessary for digesting seeds and fruit. The smaller-sized intestine can handle easy-to-digest insects. By reducing the size of its digestive organs, the yellow-rumped warbler decreases its payload for the long journey during spring migration.

The official name, Dendroica coronata, refers to the “crown” of yellow on their heads. Their common name refers to another part of their anatomy — their yellow derrière. This has earned them the nickname “butter-butt.” It’s an easy field mark if you catch a glimpse of it as a yellow-rumped warbler darts in and around tree branches.

What we see this time of year is the bold and bright breeding plumage of warblers. Having molted their dull winter colors, yellow-rump males now don a handsome plumage of bright yellow, black, white and gray. They are pretty handsome bachelors.

Seeing yellow-rumps in March is a bit out of the ordinary. Denis Kania, Restoration Ecologist with the St. Charles Park District and seasoned bird-watcher, said, “I don’t expect to be talking much about warblers in March, (but) If any warbler can push the envelope it’s the yellow-rumped.”

Some folks have asked me what will happen if this crazy summerlike weather is suddenly replaced by the normal cold and yucky March weather. I put the question to Kania, who said, “Like any of the early spring arrivals, if conditions really deteriorate (yellow-rumped warblers) can and do reverse migrate. The advantage to pushing that migration envelope is being able to secure the best breeding territories.”

The yellow-rumped warbler is not only the advance guard of spring migration; it’s also one of the last migrants to leave in the fall, according to Kane County Audubon president Bob Andrini. Some hardy individuals may even spend the winter here.

The first sight of yellow-rumped warblers in spring plumage is always a thrill. Keep me posted with other news of “firsts” of the season as we move toward April.

A follow-up

Thanks to those who wrote in response to my Feb. 13 column on Chronic Wasting Disease, deer culling and residents’ reactions. The issue is complex, and it has involved many different people countywide, statewide and wherever CWD has been found.

The topic statement of my column was, “People hold widely varying attitudes about animals.” To support this statement, I described the various positions that people take, based on their attitudes and values. I did not take sides in the Kane County deer culling debate. I wrote in the column that there is a gray area, with no right or wrong position. I concluded with, “This story speaks volumes about the human-wildlife dynamic. Let’s listen with open ears and think with open minds.”

When I referenced the North Rutland Deer Alliance, my attention was to describe the group as being one of many on a continuum of attitudes and values toward wildlife. According to an email I received from a member of the group, they have requested that I clarify their position. They are “not vehemently opposed to sampling.” In their words from an emailed statement: “When this issue first came to light over one year ago, members of our group spoke at meetings with the IDNR (Illinois Department of Natural Resources) and the FP (forest preserve) on behalf of many residents in northern Rutland Twp., and always said we understand the IDNR’s stance on CWD in our area. Our position has never wavered from supporting testing but the number of deer sampled must be reasonable and based on the current population in the immediate area the deer are to be removed from.”

I would like to add another note: Dr. Stephen Kellert, whose work I referenced in the column, is professor emeritus with the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies not Harvard University. Kellert’s work is well worth the read as it pertains to the deer culling issue in Kane County and to wildlife in general.

Valerie Blaine is a naturalist with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. You can reach her at blainevalerie@kaneforest.com.