I visited Petite Riviere early in February to see and photograph an over-wintering Yellow-throated Warbler. This warbler is a tough bird but no match for Nova Scotia's winter, at least not without a lot of human help. It was near death when it first arrived here.

I came with a crate full of 50 crickets thinking it was a big contribution. Well as it happens this warbler eats up to that many each day. I watched it as it lingered in a nearby spruce grove and sallied forth to get crickets from inside the wood shed through the slightly opened door, about one cricket every 15-30 minutes. It prefers live ones, who doesn't, but to prevent them from scurrying away they are cooled in the fridge before release. During the really cold nights the warbler actually sleeps inside the wood shed. The Yellow-throated Warbler is strong and healthy now and will survive the winter thanks to the help of a caring and dedicated bird lover.

I witnessed a similar bird-human bond with a Carolina Wren several years ago and we have an over-wintering Orange-crowned Warbler at our place in Portuguese Cove this winter.

Yellow-throated Warbler

Yellow-throated Warbler 8 Yellow-throated Warbler 9 Yellow-throated Warbler 10 Yellow-throated Warbler 11

Yellow-throated Warbler 11 Yellow-throated Warbler 10 Yellow-throated Warbler 9