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Did you know...
Song Birds A total of 36
species of song birds or wood warblers, family Parulidae, migrate
to Jamaica every winter to get away from the cold weather in North
America.
These small
(10-18.5 cm), often coloured birds are called 'Christmas birds" as
most arrive in the islands during the Christmas season, or "Chip,
chip birds" because of the 'chip' sound they make. They remain in
island until about May the following year, then they return to
their breeding grounds in North America.
Of the 36 species
of wood warblers that winter in Jamaica, only 13 are regular
visitors. The most common ones are the American Redstart (Setophaga
ruticilla), Prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor), Black throated
Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens), and Ovenbird (Seirus,
aurocapillus).
Wood warblers are
restricted to the New World (Americas). They are mainly arboreal
(tree dwelling) and inhabit woodlands, marshlands and dry scrubs.
Most of their diet consists of insects, but they will also consume
fruits. In Jamaica, they play a vital role in the coffee industry,
as they consume the coffee berry borer beetle which is a pest.
They are nocturnal
migrants, and in one night can cover up to 160 km, with a maximum
speed of 30 mph. Many birds use up their entire fat reserve
during their migration. The American Redstart uses up 50% of its
pre-migration fat reserve on its 2,900 km flight to Jamaica.
Up to 30% of the
wood warblers die during migration. Many birds die, especially on
cloudy nights, from encounters with tall buildings and
communication towers. Some become exhausted from encounters with
strong headwinds, and some are predated by other birds such as
owls.
Habitat loss is a
major threat to these birds, especially in dry coastal areas in
Jamaica where many species are found. There is evidence that
warblers return to the same feeding area every winter. Dr. Susan
Koenig of the Windsor Research Centre in Cockpit Country,
Trelawny, and Robert Sutton of Marshalls Pen in Manchester have
banded the same birds in successive years.
In Jamaica, the
Windsor Research Centre is working in Cockpit Country, Trelawny,
where 22 species of wood warblers are found, to protect the
habitats of these birds.
Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/new-world-warbler-1?cat=technology Verb. Comm. John Fletcher, President, Birdlife Jamaica. Verb. Comm. Dr. Susan Koenig, Windsor Research Centre, Cockpit Country, Trelawny.
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