Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project

A collaborative research initiative exploring the role of songbirds in N. American pollination systems 🌸 submit observations to our website ⬇️
@ColoradoStateU

[Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project @CSU_SaP_Project]

Do songbirds carry pollen, particularly for plants that have animal-mediated pollination syndromes? DNA results show that birds may forage in flowers, and thus may transport the pollen they carry. See image descriptions for more details 🌸🐦
https://t.co/kj5lP0Ujh4

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

So star-struck 🤩 A rarity for the state, this Golden-winged Warbler flew into one of the 4 nets we were able to open yesterday morning. A lifer for most of us and the first potential pollen sample taken for the species 💛

All birds handled safely and with proper permits ✨

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

Putting the "Gold" in Golden-crowned Sparrow 🤩
https://t.co/lmec9mbj2m

[Prof. Jeff Ollerton - @[email protected] @JeffOllerton]

That's a wrap! Yesterday I sent the full manuscript of Birds & Flowers to @pelagicpublish. But as I describe in this short blog post, the hard work does not end there, there's still lots to do!
#birds #pollinators #WritingCommunity #AuthorsOfTwitter

https://t.co/ra6VfyRzYv

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

https://t.co/DWuFGHKauK
I am constantly finding gorgeous songbird flower-foraging photos but these are definitely up there as a fave 🥹

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

Swabbing for pollen and banding with a great team today! @CSU_Ecology @CSU_FWCB beautiful bird shots by @Vireos_etc #fieldwork #banding #ornithology

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

Woah, a pollen horn (gummed up feathers from nectar) on a Prothonotary Warbler? 🤯

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

Ooo so much pollen on that TEWA 😮

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

The amazing @annika__abbott captured this shot of a Bullock’s Oriole at one of the plum swales we’ve been observing! This bird moved between multiple flowers and multiple shrubs, gently probing its bill into the flowers. Exciting potential pollinator behavior 🌸

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

Nashville Warbler foraging in vine maple. Super cool observation, as I've observed warblers (other than OCWA) foraging in vine maple, but never had such amazing photo evidence: check out the pollen on the bill and head in the second pic!

https://t.co/CfD3Wzq4MA

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

Collecting my first Colorado bird-pollen sample! we set up nets yesterday and promptly caught an Orange-crowned Warbler 🥰 looking forward to a beautiful and birdy spring

[Songbirds as Pollinators: the SaP Project @CSU_SaP_Project]

Master Bander @JS_Rousseau and a station volunteer taking a pollen sample from a Wilson’s Warbler at Luckiamute Banding Station (OR)! We’re looking forward to seeing what pollens this little bird could be carrying 🐥🌸

https://t.co/kj5lP0Ujh4

[Maddie @maddiejayy]

Happy #EarthDay2023! Here’s an Orange-crowned Warbler enjoying a blossom.

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

Pollen covered Orange-crowned Warbler. I've never seen an OCWA coated like this before, but it really shows how songbird feathers can trap pollen! A beautiful photo captured by Jamie Simmons in Corvallis, OR.

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

I don't know why but this Orange-crowned Warbler stuffing its little face into this flower cracks me up

https://t.co/mrRf1lyYH4

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

Another cool songbird flower foraging observation/action-shot. Shout out to all the amazing citizen scientists out there that capture shots of these oft-ignored plant-pollinator interactions! 🌸

https://t.co/ZHXtXCrwPR

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

🥹

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

I am absolutely obsessed with this OCWA and it’s pollen-dipped bill. Happy spring! 🌸

https://t.co/Zmk30mRsHr

[Carolyn Coyle (she/her/hers) @carolynmcoyle]

The folks banding at ⁦@BDMCount⁩ shred this lovely video about the research I lead (⁦@CSU_SaP_Project⁩) - check it out! Pollen collection in action 🤩 https://t.co/UIGAJfBFpH

[Jay Ammon - Founding Director at iPigeon.institute @jay_ammon]

There’s been a lot of newcomer migratory (perhaps migratory) birds, passing through some of the areas I frequent, in the Civic Center locality of Downtown Los Angeles. This is the first time I’ve seen this particular species - a yellow bird, and it drinks nectar from flowers.

[Prof. Jeff Ollerton - @[email protected] @JeffOllerton]

OK, I have kept it secret for long enough, it's time to announce the title and cover of my next book for @pelagicpublish. It is.....🥁🥁🥁 .....

"Birds & Flowers: An Intimate 50 Million Year Relationship"

Excited to see this live on Pelagic's website!

https://t.co/sTsEEa3TMP