A collaborative research initiative exploring the role of songbirds in N. American pollination systems 🌸 submit observations to our website ⬇️ @ColoradoStateU
California, Oregon, Washington
Joined September 2022
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Do songbirds carry pollen, particularly for plants that have animal-mediated pollination syndromes? DNA results show that birds may forage in flowers, and thus may transport the pollen they carry. See image descriptions for more details 🌸🐦
carolyncoyle.wixsite.com/sap…
ALT Orange-crowned Warbler, surrounded by flowers of 5 plants ID'd through DNA metabarcoding. From top to bottom the genus: Ribes, Lonicera, Salix, Rosa, and Cornus. Ribes (sanguineum), Lonicera (involucrata), and Cornus (sericea) were ID'd to species through the UNITE database, though we will be using a local database for future bioinformatics. This will prove to be more robust for species ID. While the genus Salix is often considered wind pollinated, it is also thought to be important to bees due to the pollen and nectar resources, and songbirds have been documented foraging in the male flowers.
ALT Orange-crowned Warbler foraging in Rubus (blackberry) flower. Photo courtesy of the Macaulay Library.
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
So star-struck 🤩 A rarity for the state, this Golden-winged Warbler flew into one of the 4 nets we were able to open yesterday morning. A lifer for most of us and the first potential pollen sample taken for the species 💛
All birds handled safely and with proper permits ✨
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Putting the "Gold" in Golden-crowned Sparrow 🤩
inaturalist.org/observations…
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
That's a wrap! Yesterday I sent the full manuscript of Birds & Flowers to @pelagicpublish. But as I describe in this short blog post, the hard work does not end there, there's still lots to do!
#birds #pollinators #WritingCommunity #AuthorsOfTwitter
jeffollerton.co.uk/2023/06/0…
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
inaturalist.org/observations…
I am constantly finding gorgeous songbird flower-foraging photos but these are definitely up there as a fave 🥹
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Swabbing for pollen and banding with a great team today! @CSU_Ecology @CSU_FWCB beautiful bird shots by @Vireos_etc #fieldwork #banding #ornithology
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Woah, a pollen horn (gummed up feathers from nectar) on a Prothonotary Warbler? 🤯 – at Fort Collins, CO
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Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Ooo so much pollen on that TEWA 😮 – at Fort Collins, CO
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Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
The amazing @annika__abbott captured this shot of a Bullock’s Oriole at one of the plum swales we’ve been observing! This bird moved between multiple flowers and multiple shrubs, gently probing its bill into the flowers. Exciting potential pollinator behavior 🌸 – at Fort Collins, CO
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Nashville Warbler foraging in vine maple. Super cool observation, as I've observed warblers (other than OCWA) foraging in vine maple, but never had such amazing photo evidence: check out the pollen on the bill and head in the second pic!
inaturalist.org/observations…
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Collecting my first Colorado bird-pollen sample! we set up nets yesterday and promptly caught an Orange-crowned Warbler 🥰 looking forward to a beautiful and birdy spring
Master Bander @JS_Rousseau and a station volunteer taking a pollen sample from a Wilson’s Warbler at Luckiamute Banding Station (OR)! We’re looking forward to seeing what pollens this little bird could be carrying 🐥🌸
carolyncoyle.wixsite.com/sap…
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Happy #EarthDay2023! Here’s an Orange-crowned Warbler enjoying a blossom.
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Pollen covered Orange-crowned Warbler. I've never seen an OCWA coated like this before, but it really shows how songbird feathers can trap pollen! A beautiful photo captured by Jamie Simmons in Corvallis, OR.
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
I don't know why but this Orange-crowned Warbler stuffing its little face into this flower cracks me up
inaturalist.org/observations…
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
Another cool songbird flower foraging observation/action-shot. Shout out to all the amazing citizen scientists out there that capture shots of these oft-ignored plant-pollinator interactions! 🌸
inaturalist.org/observations…
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
I am absolutely obsessed with this OCWA and it’s pollen-dipped bill. Happy spring! 🌸
inaturalist.org/observations…
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
The folks banding at @BDMCount shred this lovely video about the research I lead (@CSU_SaP_Project) - check it out! Pollen collection in action 🤩 instagram.com/p/Cq3RSYeJStw/…
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
There’s been a lot of newcomer migratory (perhaps migratory) birds, passing through some of the areas I frequent, in the Civic Center locality of Downtown Los Angeles. This is the first time I’ve seen this particular species - a yellow bird, and it drinks nectar from flowers.
Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project retweeted
OK, I have kept it secret for long enough, it's time to announce the title and cover of my next book for @pelagicpublish. It is.....🥁🥁🥁 .....
"Birds & Flowers: An Intimate 50 Million Year Relationship"
Excited to see this live on Pelagic's website!
pelagicpublishing.com/produc…
