Friday, May 27, 2022

BIrd Surveys 2022

 

Barred owl photo by Rich McCarty.

Now that May is coming to an end, its time to share some bird observances from this years return of breeders that left last fall, and migraters passing through.

Ovenbird sneakily searches the forest floor for food.

Many of the breeding warblers like ovenbird, worm-eating and hooded warblers arrived to their breeding grounds right on time. 

Worm-eating warbler returns early to its breeding ground.

Hooded warbler also breeds on the preserve.

Early breeding birds like blue-gray gnatcatcher's, black and white warblers and Northern parula's produce welcoming songs which let us know that winter is over and spring is beginning.  

Blue-gray gnatcatcher

Northern parula

Black and white warbler photo by Rich McCarty

Weekly surveys allow us to know which birds have returned and the dates.  Many birds arrivals are predictable, as they are similar every year within a few days.  

Baltimore oriole photo by Rich McCarty.

Some bird species stick around throughout the winter, but their numbers may increase as relatives from the north need to move south to areas like ours where water doesn't freeze solid.  Wood ducks may seem more abundant during migration, but the residents remain and breed near our rivers, creeks and lakes.

Wood duck photo by Rich McCarty.

Male and female wood ducks hiding along the waterway.

All habitats are searched to survey possible species.  Forests, grassy fields, croplands, old fields, neighborhoods and any body of water should be visited as many species are specific to where they live.  An Eastern kingbird will be found along wires and fences in the farmlands, where shorebirds like the solitary sandpiper needs any place with shallow water to forage.

Eastern kingbird photo by Rich McCarty.

Solitary sandpiper photo by Rich McCarty.

The real fun for anyone doing bird surveys is the possibility of finding rarer migrants passing through.  Non-breeding migrants that are moving north start singing their songs as they travel.  This gives bird surveyors a chance to hear something unusual, and possibly catch a glimpse of the rarities. 
This year produced a few unusual birds we rarely get to see or hear, like this Canada warbler.  At least 4 Canada warblers were found together one morning. 

Canada warbler found along Ohio Brush Creek.

Other rarities are found and heard every year during migration, but their striking plumage never gets old.

Blackburnian warbler

Black-throated blue warbler

A couple of very hard to find birds were photographed this year.  Philadelphia vireos were verified this year.  Its the first time in at least 25 years this bird was seen.  This is one of 3 separate Philadelphia vireos photographed this year.

First Philadelphia vireo we have seen on the preserve.

Second Philadelphia vireo found.  Photo by Rich McCarty

Also this spring, a singing mourning warbler was found along Ohio Brush Creek.  A very difficult bird to see, let alone photograph, this bird stays low in shrubs, barely giving glimpses for identification.

Mourning warbler characteristically hides in bushes not letting us get clear looks.
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All the breeding birds have returned, and the passing migrants have made their way north.  The yearly trek made by these birds is an amazing feat, and the opportunity to observe this event never disappoints.  The large and diverse landscape of the preserve supports such a wide variety of birds, its no wonder why so many people visit us to look for our feathered friends.