Jackie asked me why this bird was endangered and if it was due to habitat destruction, to which I replied:

This bird only breeds on the Edwards Plateau of Texas.

I do not know why. As you can see, he is related to the Black-throated Green , and Hermit Warblers.

They do strip the bark (it literally comes of in strips) off the Ashe Juniper to use as nest material. But there are other junipers in other parts of the U.S. that have the same type of bark----- so, why just this area of Texas??

I do not know---But, yes, habitat destruction---the ranchers bulldoze over the junipers for grazing of cattle.---is the main reason for their decline. There weren't that many to begin with, anyway, since their breeding range was so small.

In America, the Endangered Species Act can only be enforced on public land. The private land of the ranch owners is fair game to destroy habitat as long as the activity is a lawful activity---- and, cattle ranching is, indeed, a lawful activity----and if in the process, nests in trees are destroyed and burned, the federal government is helpless to do anything on private land.

In similar areas, the Black-capped Vireo also breeds and it is even MORE endangered--- I do not have a photo of it---YET---

for more pix of this bird

• 11/03/2010 17:01 - 'Mystery' Flycatcher in Ruhengeri (Rwanda)
• 11/03/2010 16:21 - 4 Splendid Species and Raptor Frustration in Bare: 07 03 10
• 10/03/2010 12:13 - FBOTW
• 09/03/2010 17:01 - Winner! Febuary 2010 TOTW
• 09/03/2010 16:47 - Collared Flycatcher confirmed - Ruhengeri, Rwanda
• 08/03/2010 12:40 - Birding the egde of Ruhengeri...
• 04/03/2010 20:57 - TOTW
• 04/03/2010 19:28 - Visit to Southern Akagera Fringe