As I'm researching warblers for a class presentation, I can't help but notice the vast amount of information that the lovely Internet has provided. There are so many websites you can access that can give you details on the species of plants and animals in your area, which is perfect for an outdoor lesson on native flora and fauna. One of the first natural things I learned as a child was that we have an amazing number of indigenous species here in Tennessee.
However, I had a huge misconception about one of those species! I was discussing with my group last night about the Nashville Warbler, pictured above. I mistakenly thought that it resided here and that Nashville was its main breeding ground. But if I were to rationally think about that, the chances of that being possible are pretty slim. If a species were to have such a small area in which to breed, that would probably mean that there are very few of those creatures around. In other words, the species would be very rare, indeed, and may even be on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Threatened or Endangered List. It is not:
http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/SpeciesReport.do
I found information about the Nashville Warbler at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency:
http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/details.cfm?displayhabitat=forest&sort=aounumber&typename=FOREST&uid=09052508501285759&commonname=Nashville Warbler
The Nashville warbler does not breed in Nashville. It was named so by a man who spotted one here back in 1811. The bird was simply stopping by in between migration points. So, if we stop to think about the logic of what we have learned, we may decide to go back and research it after realizing that some ideas just don't make sense. And it's okay to admit that you were wrong about something. Nobody knows everything! Just be sure and check your sources. Otherwise, you may get this look:
*Both pictures were taken from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
I would have thought the bird was found in Nashville as well due to the name. I learned something today! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLinsley, it is a bit misleading! Who knew that it's only around for two months out of the year? Apparently, Canada and Mexico see more of this bird than we ever have!
DeleteI guess it just goes to show, that we have to do some research before we simply accept something as truth. Now, I completely get how misconceptions are created.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere there's a city where the warbler actually lives, weeping because it can't give the bird its name because Nashville stole the opportunity. Loved the last pic!
ReplyDelete