Birds of the Rainbow

As the hot days of summer begin to settle in and the excitement of spring migration slows down, human celebrations are picking up. June is a month to celebrate freedom, a feeling that birds have always inspired. From Juneteenth to Pride month festivities, June is a time for communities to come together and reflect on the past, and to dream of the future.  

The rainbow was first adopted by the Gay Liberation movement in 1978 thanks to Gilbert Baker. When he arrived in San Francisco in 1972, Baker quickly became known for his sewing skills and creations ranging from intricate, and colorful drag costumes to political banners.  Just like birds that use bright colors to communicate, Baker conceived the flag to inspire a “rainbow of humanity” to show the LGBTQ+ community’s diversity.  

This summer, we want to encourage everyone to find inspiration in our avian friends and reflect on what the rainbow motif can mean, both in nature and in our day-to-day lives. Grab your binoculars and head outside to spot some of these beautifully colored summer residents. 

❤️RED❤️

The brilliant red of the male Northern Cardinal comes from the bird’s diet. Carotenoid pigments are found in many fruits and vegetables and are responsible for coloring feathers shades of crimson and yellow 

🧡 ORANGE🧡

 Despite its Halloween-themed feather coloring, the Baltimore Oriole enjoys its summers in the deciduous forests and parks of the Eastern United States. During the first year of the bird’s life, they appear drab with gray-green and yellowish feathers which deepen in hue as the bird ages.   

💛 YELLOW💛 

The Prothonotary Warbler is an Audubon priority species. Found in swampy areas throughout the Southeastern United States and even central Ohio, it has been identified as a bird vulnerable to habitat loss. It is unique among other warblers because it is a cavity nester, building its nest in tree holes and birdboxes. The Scioto-Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) has been identified as a potential breeding ground for the Prothonotary Warbler due to the dam-produced basin and seasonal mudflats. Historically, the Prothonotary has nested in the Scioto-Audubon IBA, but without regularity. 

💚GREEN💚

 Due to its short stature, the Green Heron appears less conspicuous than its taller cousin, the Great Blue Heron. Regardless of size, the Green Heron is an efficient ambush predator, even utilizing tools in its hunt. To spot a Green Heron outside of our center, borrow a pair of binoculars from our front desk and head to the River Observation Deck. From there, scan the brush along the water line looking carefully for a easily camouflaged bite sized Green Heron. 

🩵BLUE🩵 

Unlike many other beautifully colored birds, the Blue Jay displays sexual monomorphism, meaning both the males and females appear the same. This may be due to the Blue Jay’s feather coloration being used mostly to defend territory and scare off predators, rather than to attract a mate. 

💙INDIGO💙

The male Indigo Bunting appears as if he has been dip-dyed in indigo pigment- yet there are no blue pigments at all in its feather structure. The beautiful hue is produced by the way in which light interacts with microscopic feather structures, reflecting blue light.    

💜 VIOLET💜 

With an eye-catching iridescent purplish-blue sheen, Purple Martins have a special relationship with humans, stretching back hundreds- if not thousands- of years. Native American’s observed that Purple Martins, being members of the swallow family, were avid insect eaters. Seeking to control the insect populations around their villages, tribes would hang high up in the trees hollowed-out gourds for Purple Martins to nest in. Over the generations, Purple Martins and humans developed a mutually beneficial relationship, with Purple Martins eating unwanted insects (and producing a melodic chirping song) in exchange for humans providing nesting space. Purple Martins have developed an affinity with humans, too. They only nest in human-made boxes.