By Terry Banks

We were all disappointed when our Birdathons had to be postponed because of COVID-19.  We all understood, of course, and Travis Audubon took prompt action to keep us safe from the virus.

One of the Birdathons that I was scheduled to attend was Celeste Treadway’s at her lovely home. There her star attraction is nesting families of Golden-cheeked Warblers.

I forgot about the Birdathon until Celeste invited me to come and view the warblers at her property, using social distancing and staying outside, of course. She pointed out that now is actually a better time to see the Golden-cheeks–earlier, the warblers were in the woods quietly raising their babies and it was cool and rainy then; they did not have to come out of the woods to get water.

Now, however, it is hot, the creek is almost dry, and Celeste and her husband, Harry, have set up a marvelous water feature for all the birds on their property. Harry rigged up a birdbath with a drip which the birds love. However, the Golden-cheeks don’t really go to the birdbath much, but Celeste and Harry have discovered a way to attract them anyway. They take a hose and douse the two little live oak trees on either side of the birdbath with water so that the leaves are dripping. This attracts the Golden-cheeks to “foliage bathe,” an interesting behavior where the birds rub up against wet leaves and get themselves wet.

I arrived about 7 AM; Celeste had just doused the trees with water and the Golden-cheeks were immediately attracted. For the next hour or two, the two families of Golden-cheeks that live on Celeste’s property came to foliage bathe in those two little trees right in front of her front porch, and we got some of the best looks of Golden-cheeks that we have ever had. It was a marvelous experience, and I was so grateful that Celeste and Harry are doing this wonderful thing, making a comfortable habitat, for these beloved and endangered warblers.

Thank you Celeste and Harry!