3 days ago
Look out for ‘Skittles of the bird world' in West Virginia this summer
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Thousands of North America's most colorful birds are flying over West Virginia every day looking for love, but which ones should you keep an eye out for, and more importantly, where should you look for them?
Chris Lituma, an ornithologist and associate professor of Wildlife and Fisheries Resources at WVU, told 12 News that West Virginia, in particular, attracts many different species of warblers thanks to the state's forests. According to the National Association of State Foresters, West Virginia is the third most forested state in the country, and those woods make for a perfect habitat for birds during breeding season.
During his interview with 12 News, Lituma described warblers as being uniquely colorful.
'I say they're like the Skittles of the bird world. They are the colors of the rainbow on a collection of these different birds in North America,' Lituma said. 'They truly are, I think, our gem in North America.'
Later, he singled out two of these particular birds that can be found in West Virginia, though he estimates around 30 different warbler species fly through the state or stay during the mating season.
The golden-winged warbler (pictured below) has been a declining bird population in the eastern United States, though it can still be found in the Great Lakes area and in Canada, according to Lituma. Despite its lower numbers, the golden-winged warbler is still being observed in West Virginia, something Lituma said he was 'thrilled' to see.
'If I could express how unique that is these days in the East—it's hard for me to put it into words. You can't just go find those birds anywhere nowadays,' Lituma said.
Another bird with ties to West Virginia is the cerulean warbler. Although populations for this bird are on the decline, the Cornell Lab estimates that around 26% of all cerulean warblers breed in West Virginia, a larger percentage than anywhere else in the world.
Could the cerulean warbler replace the cardinal as West Virginia's state bird?
Other colorful warbler species you might spot in West Virginia include the blackburnian warbler, bay-breasted warbler or the yellow-rumped warbler.
But, while warblers are colorful, Lituma said that there are plenty of other types of migratory birds to be seen in West Virginia as well, such as different kinds of waterfowl and shorebirds along the Ohio, Monongalia and Potomac rivers.
If you want to get out and hunt for warblers, there are several parks and habitats Lituma recommends, but just about any natural or state park will be a good place to start with:
The Botanic Gardens and Core Arboretum in Morgantown
Little Indian Creek Wildlife Management Area in Monongalia County
Cookers Rock State Forest in Monongalia County
The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area in Pocahontas County
Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in Tucker County
If you're new to birdwatching, there are several tools available for free on your smartphone, like eBird, which can make lists of birds you've seen before, or the Merlin app, which can help you identify nearby bird calls.
If you've already been birdwatching and are maybe looking for something new, Lituma recommends making lists of birds you've seen and actively seeking out new ones so you can learn new calls and see new areas.
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