Page 666 - Hand rearing birds second

Small Insectivores 667

Members of Vireonidae have small, strong bills with a tiny hook at the tip that aid in the capture
and dismemberment of their prey. Their foraging behavior is similar to warblers, as they tend to be
very active foragers, constantly moving from branch to branch as they search leaves, twigs, and
flowers for insect prey. Some employ flycatching behavior to capture flighted insect prey. Vireos
species are known to consume varying amounts of fruit opportunistically or seasonally; however,
the majority of their diet consists of insects. Other species of small insectivorous passerines typi-
cally have similar needs to the species covered in this chapter; see Box 43.2 “Kinglets” for an
example.

­ Criteria­for Intervention

Bushtits
Bushtit nests are extremely well camouflaged and are commonly cut down during springtime
tree trimming. If the nest is undamaged and the nestlings are uninjured, the nest should be reat -
tached to the tree. If the nest is still attached to the branch that was cut, the entire branch should
be reattached using wire to secure it to another branch in the tree. The nest should be placed no
more than 1 ft. (30 cm) from its original location and should not be accessible or visible to preda-
tors. Do not attempt to put the nest in another tree. The nest should be observed for at least
1 hour from a distance of 30 ft. (9 m) or more to be certain the parents find the nest and continue
to care for the young.
Domestic cats, jays, and squirrels are common predators of Bushtit nests. If a nest has been
disturbed or destroyed by a jay or squirrel and there are surviving nestlings, attempts should
not be made to re‐nest the youngsters because the predators will return and predate the nest
again. If a domestic cat has attacked a nest of Bushtits, all survivors should be brought to a
wildlife rehabilitator for care because cats carry bacteria in their mouths and claws that can be
lethal to birds.

Wrens

Wrens may choose inappropriate nest sites. Nest relocation is rarely successful because wrens are
shy species and very wary of change in their surroundings. Chicks are also often admitted after
being caught by cats.

Warblers­and Vireos
Cats also frequently capture these species and cause often‐lethal injuries. Warblers and vireos are
also common victims of humans kidnapping, particularly when a newly fledged youngster is found
on a trail out in the middle of nowhere by hikers, who mistakenly assume the chick is orphaned.
Unfortunately, these chicks are typically transported long distances away from the area, with no
hope of ever being returned to his/her parents.

Record Keeping

See Chapter 1.