Can any of the folks who viewed the Canada Warbler found by Dave Wade (or those who pursue it in the future) shed light on my suspicion its attraction to the river birch trees in the M-R Sanctuary is the insect in the photo. This is the Birch Catkin Bug (Kleidocerys resedae). It has proven attractive to other great warblers in and near "Pine Point" in the past. They are tiny and would be concentrated in and near the flowers (catkins) of the birch trees. Almost all of the photos I checked in eBird show the bird in birch.
Another possibility of prominent food for insectivores on "Pine Point" are midges coming from Lake Estes and resting on all manner of plant substrates. When they are the primary of focus of birds, the birds are everywhere in the Sanctuary: pines, willows, birches, lake shore, etc. The narratives I've read and the eBird photos seem to show a strong attachment to birch, which is why I submit the speculation above.
Congrats to Dave Wade on his great find.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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