Warbler Wonders On Sanibel Island

Sanibel is long known and appreciated as a migratory destination for many birds, song birds and ducks included.

But there is probably no more excitement and clamor than during what is called Migratory Fallout.

This wonderful experience takes place when large flocks of birds get caught by frontal systems and are forced to “fall out” on the nearest land. These events happen every spring and fall to a greater or lesser degree,  but they vary greatly in occurrence at any one location from year to year.

This past April appeared to be exceptional when it came to the Warblers who took refuge on the Island.

These song birds that are so varied in color and patterns fly thousands of miles from South and Central America as well as the Caribbean, to take some refuge on Sanibel.

They arrive hungry and tired, and gather in many of the usual places to find food, water and rest.

They begin appearing at the beginning of the month, and generally do not leave until the end of the month.

Though they are small and quick moving, it is possible to outsmart them and anticipate where they will be hiding.  It will be worth every second you invest in the search to get a glimpse of the Cape May Warblers with their rosy cheeks, the Hooded Warblers with their brilliant yellow feathers and black neck "scarf", the beautifully patterned Black and White Warblers.  And the list goes on and on.

Apparently, there were bird alerts issued about the number of warblers visiting the Island last month, and there were many experienced birders who came to try their luck sighting. Some were successful and some were not.  With the exception of the Palm Warblers who are numerous and fairly visible, warblers are not that easy to sight.  Those who are determined to do so are best advised to have an idea of where to look.

All the warblers are attracted to the fig trees on island and that is always a good start to sightings.  But most berry trees will suffice.  We heard that one large berry tree at the beginning of the Calusa Shell Mound Trail in Ding Darling was filled with several kinds of warblers at the end of the day.  The Hooded Warbler and the Black and White Warbler were seen right off the trail in the deeper , darker thickets. And there were reports of some of the oddly named warblers like the Northern Waterthrush were spotted right in the backyards of the private homes on island.  They would move rapidly through fallen dead leaves, eating the insects underneath.

So if you are a bird lover and are looking for a week or a month on Island, you might want to consider a Sanibel vacation in April.   There is no guarantee, of course, but even if a significant fall out does not occur, there are still so many year round birds to see.

Sanibel has something for everyone , including every bird lover.