by Lynne Heidsiek
Tattered, exhausted and hungry. It’s hard to imagine what this tiny warbler endures on its long migration. You can see the feather damage in this female, as she makes use of a water feature.
Wilson’s Warblers breed in areas specific to their winter locations. Most breed in the far North. Those that breed in the Pacific Northwest overwinter in Baja California Sur or the Sinaloa Coast of Mexico. That’s a trip of approximately 1700 miles. During this journey, they are buffeted by rain and wind. They also risk being picked off by predators.
This species does not visit bird feeders. Planting natives that attract the insects they like can help them make this journey. They prefer to forage near streams; in deciduous thickets, but not usually in the deep forest. I enjoyed watching a pair for several days in my yard. They visited the water feature multiple times, and feasted on aphids on the Cascara tree. Every few days I see them again, so there is a good chance they are breeding somewhere nearby.
Vancouver Audubon 