Bird Watchers Paradise - World Class Warbler Display Arrives in Iowa
by Lowell Washburn

For Iowa birding enthusiasts, there are two distinct highlights to the annual fall migration. The sudden arrival of wood warblers and the dramatic passage of southbound hawks.

This peak of this year's hawk migration is still a month away, but the annual warbler display has already arrived. If you've not yet taken time to observe the current Warbler Fest, I'd encourage you to do so. It's a world class migration.

Fall activity began in earnest as of tens of thousands of warblers invaded the state on September 1. Most warbler mass migrations occur during clear, starlit nights. This year's flight was no exception. By the time the morning sun had cleared the horizon last Friday, local woodlands and hedgerows were already dripping with these boisterous far-flung travelers. Overnight, the Iowa landscape had become a warbler watcher's paradise.

Peering from the window of my living room, I was amazed to discover seven warblers of five different species sharing a single bird bath. Dozens more busily scoured fern, dogwood, and hackberry in search of the tiny insect life that fuels the migration to destinations in Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies.

Grabbing my camera, I immediately headed to a nearby woodland in hopes of finding even greater variety and numbers. I was not disappointed. In less than an hour I enjoyed close up encounters with more than a hundred warblers of eight species. Later that morning, I called to talk with friends. Their stories were all the same --- migrating warblers everywhere.

Depending on weather, this year's warbler migration should continue full throttle for at least the next several days. It's a better than average year and is an outdoor adventure you don't want to miss. Here are six tips for getting your best look:

1. Generally speaking, the larger and more diverse the woodland, the better the birding. Iowa's state parks, county nature areas, river greenbelts, and state forests will offer the most variety and greatest overall numbers.
    
2. Warblers love to drink and bathe. Since water is often a limited commodity within woodland environments, any small pond or stream -- even if it's a mere trickle -- will serve as a warbler magnet. Find clean water and you've found the migration.
    
3. Keep noise and movements to a minimum. Find a good area and take root. You'll see more warblers [and other birdlife] when you're sitting still.
    
4. Wear earth tone or camouflaged clothing. There's no point in being overly conspicuous.
   
   If you plan to photograph wood warblers, be prepared for challenge and disappointment. Tiny, active, and flighty, warblers rarely remain in one spot for more than a second or two. Professional wildlife photographers regard any crisp shot as a real trophy. Most warblers are smaller than a sparrow. I prefer to use a straight 200mm or 300mm lens and try to limit my shots to within four or five yards. Because most deep woods settings are poorly lit, I also carry a lightweight strobe to provide fill flash. In spite of being such highly energetic and nervous birds, most species are amazingly tolerant of flash. Perhaps they mistake it for lightning.
    
5. Don't forget your binoculars and bird book. No family of birds is more challenging and confusing to identify than fall warblers.