On the Chances of relocating the Black and White Warbler recently sighted
near Wenatchee:

First you have to find it, if it hasn't moved south or out of the area.
Then you have to catch it, which is the hardest part. I reccommend mist
nets, but butterfly nets are theoretically possible, though the risk of
injury or death is much greater than mist netting. Even if you are skilled
and lucky enough to get the net onto the bird at all, they are excessively
likely to hit the rim when you rapidly swing the net. A slow swing will
never catch the bird. Large reflective picture windows can also be a way to
catch them if you are willing to risk a high injury and death rate. As a
youth on Long Island I caught quite a few wood warblers that way, but I
can't remember for sure if we got any B&W's. If you are taking your
Christmas vacation in Mexico or Central America make sure your bird has a
seat in the pressurized portion of the plane and a good supply of live
insects and spiders, preferably of the kind that overwinter in the crevices
of bark. Customs could be a problem, but it's much easier heading south
than north into the US. I reccommend swallowing all of the remaining
insects before customs. Most would be quite nutritious, so don't worry too
much. If you brought Spanish Flys you can release them rather than eating
them if you don't want the side effects. They can speak the lingo so they
won't need your help getting through customs themselves. You can buy
mexican jumping beans at the airport to tide you over until you get to the
release site, but crack them open as the B&W Warbler is not adapted to
pecking or cracking seeds. The next problem is locating some of the
remaining wintering habitat. Eucalyptus forests and non-shade coffee
plantations are not appropriate.

On the whole I'd say your chances are not very good, but if you want to give
it a try go ahead. Even though the bird is well north of it's normal winter
range and may be at risk, its chances of survival through the winter would
probably be better of you just let it be.

Stewart Wechsler
(While I originally interpreted "re-locate" this way, this is not a request
for greater clarity.)
Seattle, WA
ecostewart at quidnunc.net

-----Original Message-----
From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu]On Behalf Of Matthew Moskwik
Sent: Saturday, December 13, 2003 7:26 PM
To: inland-nw-birders at uidaho.edu; tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: RFI: Black and White Warbler Sighting


Inlanders,

Now that I'm on Christmas break, I'd like to get out and do some birding. I
was intrigued by the Black and White Warbler sighting near Wenatchee
recently. I've considered a trip to relocate the bird. Does anybody know
what the chances of relocating this warbler during the winter would be?

Matthew Moskwik
mpmoskwik at hotmail.com
Cheney, WA

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