early migrants

3/14/2023

Spring migration is a beautiful time for birding. Whether it’s a bird coming in for summer or just passing through, it’s a great time to see many species. Sometimes birds will migrate earlier than the rest. This was the case for some species that were early this spring, like American avocets, greater yellowlegs a varied thrush, and, one of the most popular, the Yellow-throated warbler.

Warblers typically come in mid-April to mid-May, but this one first showed up on February 28th! Only a couple of individuals of this species show up each year, so I and many other birders went to see it. As of the writing of the post, which is March 14th, the warbler is still there.

In Boulder, there was a varied thrush which, like the YTWA, is a bird that only shows up once or twice a year. Also like the warbler, lots and lots of birders came to see it.

-Archer Silverman