Warblers - a Southern Live Oak tree sounded like it was singing

Black-throated Green Warbler, 1.19.20

Today I found a Southern Live Oak on Wildewood Drive bustling with warblers. 

I saw for the first time a Black-throated Green Warbler. These birds are affectionately called "b-t greens" known for their call that can be transcribed as trees, trees, I love trees. I feel lucky to have gotten this photo since they stay high in the canopy. 

I saw other warblers in the same tree. I am grateful for the expertise of the birding group, What's This Bird? I need their help to identify most warblers.

For example, from the same tree, the next three photographs are of a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Another type from the same tree, a Pine Warbler. 

A warbler I most easily identify—a Palm Warbler. The first photo from today, and a better photo from a few months ago.

Southern and laurel live oak trees

Laurel live oak (far left looking at photo) and southern live oak (right, trunk not visible; other live oaks across the water in the background) trees behind units on Pineneedle Drive. Susan Michael Barrett, photographer.

One of the first things I heard when I moved to Florida was in response to a question about the best trees to plant to withstand hurricanes.

An old timer native Floridian said, “If I was outside in a hurricane, I’d want to hang onto a southern live oak.” When I saw how the live oak limbs plunge toward the ground before shooting upward, I easily imagined myself grabbing hold of a branch. 

If you wonder how to identify the difference between the laurel and southern live oaks, one distinction is their bark. The laurel oak has smooth bark, the southern live oak bark is furrowed. Here is a link with photos to see the differences. 

The oldest live oak trees in Wildewood are estimated to be seventy to one hundred years old. Many of the live oaks have resurrection ferns growing on the large branches.

There is an historic southern live oak in Safety Harbor, FL that is estimated to be about 300 years old. I’ve visited and hugged the tree.

Here are a few live oak tree facts.