Black-throated blue warbler wintering in Chicago instead of Caribbean

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-talk-black-throated-blue-20120107,0,1148657.story

Why fly all the way to Caribbean when you can winter in Chicago?

Tiny black-throated blue warbler spending the season in Millennium Park

By Sheryl DeVore, Chicago Tribune reporter

January 7, 2012

Maybe it's the mild winter. Maybe it's just too young to know any better. But yet another bird that should be wintering in a warmer clime seems to have settled in Chicago.

A black-throated blue warbler, whose relatives are in the Caribbean eating insects for the winter, has taken up residence in Millennium Park.

And it's getting by with a little help from a friend, a yellow-bellied sapsucker that drills holes in trees so they both can lap up the flowing sap.

Video here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/videogallery/67210775/News/Video-Bird-that-should-be-in-Caribbean-spotted-in-Chicago

[waddirum]

1. It was a sunny beautiful day in the 50s yesterday

I was out playing tennis.

[madrchsod]

2. i actually walked around outside without shoes on yesterday

the ground was a bit cold and wet but the concrete was warm....

[NNN0LHI]

3. I was bit by a mosquito and had moths flying around our outdoor lights yesterday evening

Not normal occurrences in January.

Edit: Think my dog is beginning to blow her winter coat in anticipation of spring already. Hair everywhere.

Don

[aaaaaa5a]

4. The ducks in my backyard no longer fly south for the winter.

There are just as many ducks in my backyard pond right now as there are in August. We have noticed for years that the idea of "birds flying south for the winter" is becoming increasingly untrue. My garage is also still loaded with spiders!

[mainer]

5. Robins here in Maine -- in January.

They're confused.