[Rick Masters]

Among the largest of the Passeriformes (perching birds) is the Ozone Warbler. Although rarely seen before 1990, this noisy bird has expanded its range and today can frequently be spotted near ski resorts and hiking trails in the late afternoon, exuberantly calling and screeching until darkness sets in. The Ozone Warbler prefers to build its colorful nests high in the treetops, but occasionally it can be found at ground level in shallow, crater-like nests similar to that of the Chestnut-collared Longspurl, although larger and less organized.

This blog is meant to aid in identifying the Ozone Warbler and to help differentiate it from other species such as the flying squirrel.


Winter nest of the Ozone Warbler.

[wingspan33]

Rick,

While I'm not one of those crazy intense bird watching people, I do enjoy observing the larger soaring birds (local red tails, turkey vultures, bald eagles, osprey, and peregrines, etc.).

Now, this Ozone Warbler is new to me. It does appear to be a larger bird, possibly capable of soaring flight. However, this variety is odd since most warblers are relatively small birds (~ 5" beak to tail). But then, the "Ozone" part of its name may relate to certain environmental conditions that have led to a mutation in the direction of extreme size.

In other situations involving similar increased size mutations, those of us studied in the facts are also aware of the sad truth that the brains of these flying creatures typically remain as small as their ~ 5" cousins. This, then, often leads to the swift extinction of these mutated, over large, species (basically, they're just too stupid to survive). I would not doubt that the Ozone Warbler is likely to meet the same sad fate within not too much time.

Oh, and one more thing. The Ozone Warbler's nest is much too colorful. Rather than concealing the young ones, it is much more likely to attract predators. This behavior clearly puts the next generation of Ozone Warblers seriously at risk.

[Rick Masters]

Sadly, the male Ozone Warbler has frequently been found dead in its nest. This is leading ornithologists to suspect the Ozone Warbler is indeed a genetic mutation; a dead end anomaly that cannot reproduce successfully within its limited lifetime. However, these birds have been spotted flying with captive females of other species. Sadly, although they occasionally nest together, no eggs have ever been found, which raises the question, "Where do they come from?" One theory is that birds from other species take over the nest of deceased Ozone Warblers and undergo a strange and irreversible genetic transformation, but these studies have been denounced by the conventional ornithological establishment as heretical.

[Rick Masters]

Ozone Warbler perched on a wire.
Although the Warbler screeches and chirps incessantly, ornithologists have observed that such behavior rarely attracts a mate.

[Rick Masters]

May 31, 2015 This Ozone Warbler at first appeared to be laying an egg

[Bob Kuczewski]

May 31, 2015 This Ozone Warbler at first appeared to be laying an egg

Wow. Just last week!!

I don't suppose USHPA publishes pictures like these on their web site.

[Rick Masters]

As has been observed in other species, the Ozone Warbler often will mate in the air before nesting in the treetops.

[Rick Masters]

VIDEO http://h0087.s15.cdn.szn.cz/vod/15/0087/26749/mp4/6de5edc8d793edf3_360p.mp4

Ornithologists note that the decision of the Ozone Warbler to nest seems to come on the spur of the moment and, strangely, it appears that any species of tree will do, although the common eucalyptus has proven popular, perhaps for its greater distribution in Australian forests. But in this instance, the curiosity of a group of ornithologists from a nearby university seems to have spooked the Ozone Warbler, causing it to leave its nest, so it is unknown if it was preparing to lay an egg. The creature was quickly captured and rushed off to a taxidermist where it was autopsied and stuffed. No egg was found. It is now on display at the Museum of Onithology in Perth, perched in its colorful nest (between the Great Auk and Dodo exhibits), to the delight of visitors, many who have never seen an Ozone Warbler except from afar.

[wingspan33]

All of the Above.

.

Those poor, poor Ozone Warblers! . . .

.

[Rick Masters]

Decoys used to attract Ozone Warblers

Ornithologists, weary of climbing trees to study Ozone Warblers in their native habitat, have developed a new method - the use of decoys to attract the strange birds.

In this video, an Ozone Warbler with a captive female appears to be attempting to nest near the decoys, perhaps in the hope of laying an egg.

VIDEO http://voddownload02.globo.com/v0/02/8b/f0/3830892_f0efc92d7e40ec5890f06a7ee39b5f585cee6536/3830892-web360.mp4?h=050214340391976126404270143404279788713718881x6O_dp9OK0im3yq528Xqyw&k=html5