During the past week, we’ve been exploring wooded slopes around the lower Susquehanna region in search of recently arrived Neotropical birds—particularly those migrants that are singing on breeding territories and will stay to nest. Coincidentally, we noticed a good diversity of species in areas where tent caterpillar nests were apparent.
![Eastern Tent Caterpillar Nest Eastern Tent Caterpillar Nest](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eastern-Tent-Caterpillar-IMG_8929-Copy.jpg)
![Eastern Tent Caterpillar Eastern Tent Caterpillar](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eastern-Tent-Caterpillar-IMG_9434-Copy.jpg)
Here’s a sample of the variety of Neotropical migrants we found in areas impacted by Eastern Tent Caterpillars. All are arboreal insectivores, birds that feed among the foliage of trees and shrubs searching mostly for insects, their larvae, and their eggs.
![Yellow-throated Vireo Yellow-throated Vireo](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Yellow-throated-Vireo-IMG_9108-Copy.jpg)
![Eastern Wood-Pewee Eastern Wood-Pewee](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eastern-Wood-Pewee-IMG_9129-Copy.jpg)
![Northern Parula Northern Parula](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Northern-Parula-IMG_8948-Copy.jpg)
![Hooded Warbler Hooded Warbler](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Hooded-Warbler-IMG_9002-Copy.jpg)
![Ovenbird Ovenbird](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ovenbird-IMG_9489-Copy.jpg)
![Kentucky Warbler Kentucky Warbler](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kentucky-Warbler-IMG_8964-Copy.jpg)
![Worm-eating Warbler Worm-eating Warbler](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Worm-eating-Warbler-IMG_9455-Copy.jpg)
![Scarlet Tanager Scarlet Tanager](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Scarlet-Tanager-IMG_9121-Copy.jpg)
In the locations where these photographs were taken, ground-feeding birds, including those species that would normally be common in these habitats, were absent. There were no Gray Catbirds, Carolina Wrens, American Robins or other thrushes seen or heard. One might infer that the arboreal insectivorous birds chose to establish nesting territories where they did largely due to the presence of an abundance of tent caterpillars as a potential food source for their young. That could very well be true—but consider timing.
![](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eastern-Tent-Caterpillar-IMG_8931-Copy.jpg)
![Eastern Tent Caterpillar Eastern Tent Caterpillar](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eastern-Tent-Caterpillar-IMG_9004-Copy.jpg)
![Wild Turkey Wild Turkey](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Wild-Turkey-IMG_9012-Copy.jpg)
![Yellow-billed Cuckoo Yellow-billed Cuckoo](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Yellow-billed-Cuckoo-IMG_8862-Copy.jpg)
![Black Cherry Defoliated Black Cherry defoliated by Eastern Tent Caterpillars.](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eastern-Tent-Caterpillars-IMG_8933-Copy.jpg)
So why do we find this admirable variety of Neotropical bird species nesting in locations with tent caterpillars? Perhaps it’s a matter of suitable topography, an appropriate variety of native trees and shrubs, and an attractive opening in the forest.
![American Redstart American Redstart](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/American-Redstart-IMG_8957-Copy.jpg)
![Black Cherry in Flower Black Cherry in Flower](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Eastern-Tent-Caterpillar-Black-Cherry-IMG_8934-Copy.jpg)
![Blue-winged Warbler Blue-winged Warbler](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Blue-winged-Warbler-IMG_8901-Copy.jpg)
![Red-eyed Vireo Red-Eyed Vireo](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Red-eyed-Vireo-IMG_8920-Copy.jpg)
![Red-eyed Vireo Red-eyed Vireo](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Red-eyed-Vireo-Eastern-Tent-Caterpillars-IMG_8917-Copy.jpg)
Here in the Lower Susquehanna River Watershed, the presence of Eastern Tent Caterpillar nests can often be an indicator of a woodland opening, natural or man-made, that is being reforested by Black Cherry and other plants which improve the botanical richness of the site. For numerous migratory Neotropical species seeking favorable places to nest and raise young, these regenerative areas and the forests surrounding them can be ideal habitat. For us, they can be great places to see and hear colorful birds.
![Scarlet Tanager Scarlet Tanager](https://www.susquehannawildlife.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Scarlet-Tanager-IMG_9405-Copy-Copy.jpg)