Prothonotary Warbler

(Protonotaria citrea)

Where: Richmond, VA • Vawter Street Park

Notes: In the spring I have often heard nature photographers express discouragement when the leaves return to the trees. I suspect this is due to the blockage of light to the understory, plus the new foliage often presents blockage of the subject. But with the unfurling of leaves, there comes a green brilliance to the landscape that I love. As the colors renew the land, so comes the most pristine plumage of our birds for the year. The colors are apparently for mate attraction and territorial display. The arrival of colorful birds also means they have survived the hundreds of miles of migratory flight to and from their wintering grounds. The Prothonotary is evidence of this successful mission. So not only is it important that we conserve their breeding grounds here, but that efforts are made to protect the places they travel to each winter, in this case Central America.