When I first noticed a Scarlet tanager back east, I was instantly enchanted. Its brilliant red feathers caught my eye — a burst of color in a sea of green. Spotting one feels special, a gem in the forest. I haven’t seen one since I left the east coast, I miss them. These vibrant beauties are in the same family as the cardinals. Only the males only turn red, their summer attire. They are dressing fancy for us in North America. When they migrate down to South and Central America, they turn olive/yellow like the females.
Nature is mysterious and full of wisdom. How these little birds manage to survive the long journeys and the onslaught of deforestation, pesticides, climatic chaos and predators is mind boggling. I hope our children will continue to see them.
When I first noticed a Scarlet tanager back east, I was instantly enchanted. Its brilliant red feathers caught my eye — a burst of color in a sea of green. Spotting one feels special, a gem in the forest. I haven’t seen one since I left the east coast, I miss them. These vibrant beauties are in the same family as the cardinals. Only the males only turn red, their summer attire. They are dressing fancy for us in North America. When they migrate down to South and Central America, they turn olive/yellow like the females.
Nature is mysterious and full of wisdom. How these little birds manage to survive the long journeys and the onslaught of deforestation, pesticides, climatic chaos and predators is mind boggling. I hope our children will continue to see them.