YELLOW WARBLER: The Wholeness of Self

One of the most common of the Wood-warblers, Yellow Warbler is easily noticed in his bright yellow feathers. Known as the “Wild Canary”, He is famous for his cheerful call of “sweet, sweet, sweet”. Until nesting season ends, Yellow Warbler’s ringing song can be heard throughout the riversides.

The name “Yellow Warbler” refers to a sub-species complex that numbers between thirty five and forty-three Birds. Together, They make up Dendroica petechia. This comples is usually divided into three sub-groups. The one that most people see is the aestiva group, which is referred to as “Yellow Warbler”. The petechia group, which is known as “Golden Warbler”, lives in the mangrove swamps of the West Indies. “Mangrove Warbler” (the erithachorides group) inhabits the mangrove swamps of Middle and South America.

No matter where They live, all these Yellow Warblers have similar lives. Building a cup nest, Female Yellow Warbler uses fine grass, cobwebs, and down from plants. If a larger Cowbird should lay their eggs in the Warbler’s nest, She will rebuild her nest on top of theirs. During breeding season, Female Yellow Warbler will sneak back and forth, to steal nesting materials from the other Warblers. Meanwhile, her Mate, Male Yellow Warbler sneaks off to court other Females.

These “Wild Canaries” bring joy and fun into people’s lives. People enjoy listening to Yellow Warblers as They sing their songs. Watching these Birds dart about eating Gypsy Moths and Caterpillars can be entertaining as well.

The wholeness of self is embodied in Yellow Warblers. Their aspect of light is the joy They bring to us. Their shadow self is how They sneak off like thieves to steal from others. We accept Yellow Warblers in their entirety, both their good and bad. “Embrace all of you,” urge these Wild Canaries, “and become whole”. Do not deny either part of yourself.

NEW WORLD WARBLERS (PARULIDAE)

NEW WORLD WARBLERS (PARULIDAE)

Well known for their songs, New World Warblers are small Birds with thin legs. In constant motion, these colourful Birds delight bird watchers everywhere. New World Warblers are in their own family, and not related to either the Eurasian or Australian Warblers.

“The Oven Bird” by Robert Frost

There is a singer everyone has heard,
Loud, a mid-summer and a mid-wood bird,
Who makes the solid tree trunks sound again.
He says that leaves are old and that for flowers
Mid-summer is to spring as one to ten.
He says the early petal-fall is past
When pear and cherry bloom went down in showers
On sunny days a moment overcast;
And comes that other fall we name the fall.
He says the highway dust is over all.
The bird would sing and be as other birds,
But that he knows in singing not to sing.
The question that he frames in all but words
is what to make of a diminished thing.

OVENBIRD: The Ebb and Flow of Time

The subject of Robert Frost’s poem, Ovenbird is a small olive-brown Bird with a crown of orange feathers. During the summer, He chants “tea-cher, TEA-cher”. Often heard, Ovenbird is not usually seen. Meanwhile, Female Ovenbird makes a nest on the ground. Because her snug nest resembles a Dutch oven, She and her mate came be called, “Ovenbird”.

Ovenbird helps to attune us to the seasons. In the Northern United States, He appears in May heralding the warmer weather. Come fall, Ovenbird leaves for warmer regions. However He will return in the spring. Follow the seasons with Ovenbird as your guide. Feel the ebb and flow of time as Robert Frost notes in his poem.

------------------
Science Notes:

1. Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) is a member of the Family of New World Warblers (Parulidae), and is not the same bird as Rufous Ovenbird of the Furnariidae Family.