Nature Corner: Another Amazing Avian Architect
by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 6/16/2026
Last week, while participating in an outdoor watercolor painting class, we became fascinated by a tiny bird repeatedly flitting back and forth overhead between two evergreen trees draped with Old Man’s Beard lichen (Usnea), also known as Grandfather’s Beard. Curiosity soon revealed the source of her activity- a female Northern Parula hard at work building her nest.
Northern Parulas are tiny, colorful warblers that spend much of their lives high in the forest canopy. In the northeastern part of their range, they are dependent on Usnea lichen, which thrives in mature, moist woodlands and swamps. Their choice of nesting material is remarkably clever.
Why build with lichen?
- Excellent camouflage: The woven lichen blends almost perfectly with the surrounding branches, making the nest extremely difficult to detect.
- A flexible design: Like an oriole’s nest, the hanging structure can sway with the wind while helping protect eggs and nestlings.
- Protection from predators: By nesting high in trees and deep within hanging vegetation, Northern Parulas reduce the risk of predators finding their young.
- Efficient construction: Rather than building an entirely new structure from scratch, the female often incorporates existing clumps of lichen into the nest, weaving and shaping them into a secure pouch.
Building the nest may take up to four days. After gathering strands of lichen, the female carefully weaves them together, forming a small, hanging, pouch-like nest with a side entrance. She then lines the interior with softer materials such as fine grasses, pine needles, moss, and animal hair to create a warm, protected nursery for her future family.
To learn more about these tiny wood warblers check out the Cornell Lab’s article!
Nature Corner: A Song from the Woods
by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 6/9/2026
While sitting quietly on the deck this past weekend and enjoying the symphony of birdsong, I heard a thin, high-pitched ”weesy, weesy, weesy” refrain drifting from the edge of the woods.
Following the sound, camera in hand, I was delighted to discover this beautiful black-and-white warbler singing away among the leaves. Like nuthatches, these tiny warblers move quickly to probe bark and moss for insects on tree trunks and branches.
Inspired to learn more, I was surprised to discover that although they spend much of their time in trees, they build their nests on the ground tucked among leaves and forest debris. Unlike other wood warblers, black-and-white warblers are specially adapted for life on tree bark. Their extra-long hind claws and stronger legs help them cling to trunks and branches as they search for insects, allowing them to navigate trees in a way that resembles a nuthatch more than a typical warbler.
It’s moments like these that remind me why I never tire of watching birds. A song, a flash of movement, a brief encounter—and an ordinary morning becomes something special.
To discover more check out the Cornell Lab’s article on the Black-and-white Warbler
Nature Corner: Pink Lady Slippers, Beauty Built on Patience
by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 6/2/2026
An iconic sign of spring in New England (not to mention New Hampshire’s State wildflower,) Pink Lady Slippers are surprisingly vulnerable and are classified as a species of special concern in many areas.
From seed to flower, it can take anywhere from 10 to 16 years for a Pink Lady Slipper to bloom. Unlike most plants, their tiny seeds contain no stored food and must rely on a specific soil fungus to provide nutrients during their early growth. This dependence is one reason transplanting Pink Lady Slippers has a success rate of less than 5 percent.
The good news is that once established, these woodland orchids can live for more than 50 years.
While ants help disperse the seeds of some spring wildflowers, as discussed in last week’s Nature Corner, bumblebees play an important role in the pollination of Pink Lady Slippers. Attracted by the flower’s color and scent, a bumblebee squeezes into the pouch-like blossom in search of nectar. Once inside, however, it discovers there is no reward. To escape, it must crawl toward an opening near the top of the flower, brushing against the reproductive structures as it exits.
Because only large, strong insects can navigate this route, and because the flowers offer no nectar, only about 5 percent of Pink Lady Slippers are successfully pollinated.
Considering the many years it takes these woodland beauties to reach maturity and their conservation status, they serve as an important reminder to admire but never pick or transplant these remarkable native orchids.
To discover more about Pink Lady Slippers and their conservation status check out the University of New Hampshire’s article on the matter.
Nature Corner: Nature’s Architect
by Wendy Oellers-Fulmer, 5/26/2026
On a recent birding walk at Pickering Ponds Trail in Rochester, NH- we were delighted to witness Baltimore Orioles building their nest high up in branches of the tree.
The oriole’s nest is unique among the nests of other American birds. Although it appears deceptively fragile, it is an astonishing feat of engineering. The nests make up hundreds of fibers intricately woven together in a durable structure which are able to withstand wind and weather.
The architect behind this wonder is the female Baltimore Oriole. Her nest building is an incredible process that can take up to two weeks. After choosing her site, usually high up in a tree, she begins by using her beak, in precise darting and poking motions, to secure long fibers and anchor the nest by creating knots and tangles. After it’s secured, she’ll “weave” additional fibers to form an outer pouch, then proceed to softer, more flexible materials for the inner lining. Finally, she’ll line the nest with feathers and other materials as a cushion for eggs and nestlings.
Her “building materials” can include grass, strips of grapevine bark, wool, and horsehair, as well as artificial fibers such as cellophane, twine, or fishing line. Although these nests are rarely used after a year, orioles will sometimes recycle materials from old nests. While the male may sometimes contribute nest building materials, the female is the true master architect for this amazing creation.
To discover more check out the National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab, and this short but sweet video.