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| Fall
Migration 2004 (in reverse chronological order)
Here is Greg's summary of the season: The Fall 2004 survey season has come to a close and as I write this, the leaves have fallen and only a few migrants remain in the Area. I completed 27 surveys with over 65 hours in the field, surveying four days per week from 9 September to 31 October on a route I have been using for over five migration seasons. Surveys were between 2 and 3 hours in duration walking the same route each time. I observed 100 species while on the survey with a few highlights. On 9 September, I recorded 18 species of warblers including 8 Magnolia, 10 Black-throated blue, 12 Blackpoll, 6 Black-and-white, and 16 American Redstarts. I observed the only Mourning and Canada Warblers of the fall season, and it was a day in which 10 new migrant species arrived. There was a low-pressure system with a strong north wind that probably accounted for this. Great Egrets are typically seen only along the channelized section of the Rouge River, but one appeared on Fairlane Lake on 9 September as well. Also on that day I saw a Northern Mockingbird that was very likely the individual that has made the Area its home for over five years. An Eastern Phoebe showed up in the swamp on 13 September just less than a month before I observed the next few starting on 10 October. 15 September marked the sighting of a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in the Swamp. The spruce budworm specialists of the boreal forests including Tennessee, Blackpoll, and Bay-breasted Warbler showed their highest numbers during the middle of September. White-throated Sparrows arrived on 18 September followed by White-crowned Sparrows on the 26th. A new early date for Winter Wren was set on the 18th and they were subsequently seen almost each survey with a high count of 7 on 6 October. They were noticeably easy to find this year and I recorded more of them this fall than any other fall season. The month of September started almost daily occurrences of Red-breasted Nuthatches where I saw the species 25 days on the survey—a good number for Wayne County. On 25 September, I noted at least 12 Blackpoll Warblers in one flock along the Rouge River and saw the first Cape May Warblers of the season. That day held the highest numbers of migrant birds that stuck around for the most part until the 27th, when the first Yellow-rumped Warbler and Brown Creeper were along the lake. A marked decrease in songbirds followed the next day and a major push of warblers never came again. A Blue-winged Warbler set the late date for that species on 27 September and the 28th marked the arrival of larger flocks of Common Grackles and Canada Geese on the lake, and the first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The end of the month showed a little push of Nashville Warblers and arriving Orange-crowned Warblers and kinglets. Dark-eyed Juncos and Hermit Thrush arrived at the beginning of October. Purple Finches were seen daily with a high count of six on 6 October. On 23 October, I had a House Wren in the Swamp that set the new late date for that species. Also on that day were five Rusty Blackbirds and one Peregrine Falcon that flew over the Area. On 25 October, I observed three separate sightings of American Pipits flying over Jenson’s Meadow. This was a bird that has never been recorded over campus. All three were heading southwest towards Greenfield Village in Dearborn. I would assume that they were coming from the sunflower fields near the Ford Headquarters, which likely provides a little habitat for them. Most warblers were gone in October except for Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Tennessee, Black-throated Green, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. A Black-throated Blue Warbler tied the late date on 25 October. During the end of October, Fox Sparrows were seen daily and Indigo Buntings continued through the last survey. On 27 October, 120 Red-winged Blackbirds flew over. A group of 3 American Tree Sparrows were the last arrivals on 31 October. Good birding! Greg
Norwood
October 31: The survey for the 30th was cancelled due to rain in the morning, and later in the day 30 MPH winds from the southwest and 50 MPH gusts ripped through the Natural Area. The survey was conducted on the 31st instead, and the Area looked completely different. Most of the leaves are fallen to the ground and the peak of fall colors was gone in one dramatic windstorm that left the area littered with freshly fallen trees that were waiting to come down. Just
as the survey began, I heard a Fox Sparrow call and a few Dark-eyed Juncos
near the feeders behind the Environmental Interpretive Center. It
was quiet and it seems appropriate that this was the last survey for the
2004 fall season. Ironically, it marked the arrival of American Tree
Sparrows (3) in the Old Field, feeding in the goldenrod. Although
White-throated Sparrows (20) still occupy the woods in decent numbers,
Yellow-rumped Warblers (6) are declining as are Ruby-crowned Kinglets (1).
Two accipiters were seen: one adult Sharp-shinned and a juvenile Cooper’s
Hawk. I finished this year’s surveys with Purple Finches (4) still
around and good numbers of sparrows.
October 27: It was a relatively quiet day again but there have been stable numbers of White-throated Sparrows (35) and Yellow-rumped Warblers (10) over the last few days. A Pied-billed Grebe finally showed up on Fairlane Lake where we typically have at least a few for a short time in late fall. A huge flock of at least 120 Red-winged Blackbirds flew over and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was along the Lakeside Trail. October 26: It was extremely foggy this morning with a slight wind from the northeast and 46 degrees. There were very few birds today in comparison with yesterday and Eastern Phoebe was the only highlight. It was observed on the west side of Fairlane Lake just past midway to the other side while it perched about three feet from the water’s surface on a dead tree branch sticking out of the shallow water. It made a gentle pwip call note, like a water droplet falling from a leaky faucet. The phoebe would fly off the branch and as soon as it was airborne it attempted to catch an insect of which many still can be seen in close inspection of the water’s surface. Eastern Phoebes are seen late in migration, and likewise, early in spring where they are passing through the Natural Area to more suitable habitats. They need a structure where their nest can be built made of mud placed often times in the eave of a building, garage or barn. It is because of this that it is an easily studied bird and it was the first bird banded in North America in 1804 by John James Audubon. A Fox Sparrow was seen today again where they have been pretty reliable over the past week. October 25: The beginning of another week seemed to shove us further into the fall season with a major arrival of Dark-eyed Juncos (20) that were present in numbers three times that of the past surveys. At 8:15AM, I stepped out into the crisp morning air and at last some sun shone down and picked up an explosion of red, yellow, orange, and many different shades of brown and green. The trees around the Environmental Interpretive Center were filled with American Robins that were almost deafening until one of them was snatched out of the air by a Sharp-shinned Hawk. It slammed the robin against the pavement shrieking as the “sharpie” sunk its talons in it as if it were too hot to step on. Suddenly, the robin managed to free itself and streaked through the suddenly silent forest leaving the hawk with nothing but a pile of feathers on the concrete driveway. Three American Pipits flew over the meadow today sounding off their redundant, strong, rapid pip-pit! as they flew over. They nest on the tundra and spend the winter in fields or beaches in the southern half of the States where we are picking them up midway as they pass through the Great Lakes region. A female Black-throated Blue Warbler was in the Old Field, fueling up for its winter territory with other females of its kind in Jamaica, Cuba, or eastern Mexico October 23: It was a very interesting fall morning with temperatures a little warmer than what we’ve experienced of late and some sun for a change. Early in the morning a Peregrine Falcon buzzed over the Environmental Interpretive Center with powerful wing-beats, cruising over the parking structure. It’s rarely seen from the Natural Area and probably won’t stick around too long especially with relatively few Rock Pigeons around. Yellow-rumped Warblers are occupying the Area in large numbers where 42 were seen on the survey. The constant high-pitched tseet call notes of the White-throated Sparrows are continuing to fill the air everywhere. In the swamp, I noticed a couple of Red-winged Blackbirds in the dead snags, but on the ground below them was a flock of five Rusty Blackbirds (two males and two females in basic plumage, one unknown). A harsh chatter turned out to be a House Wren, a late individual of that species. It was interesting to note that the tail on this bird was partly missing. It should be done molting them by now so it likely lost them somehow. This may be the reason it is still here, as molting is energetically taxing and migration and feather replacement in passerines typically do not occur simultaneously. October 20: Yesterday’s low numbers of most migrants was followed up today with a nice diversity and a marked increase in a few species. In the morning there were 180 Canada Geese on the lake with many B. c. interior from Canada of which seven were collared with orange neck bands. Although many of the geese are the non-migratory Branta.canadensis maxima, the second half of October usually brings the migrant B.c. interior from the north. The swamp held really nice numbers of sparrows where I saw Field, Fox, Song (5), Swamp (6), White-throated Sparrow (total of 60), and White-crowned Sparrow (4). It was a good day for Winter Wrens (6) where they appear spread throughout the Area. Another Orange-crowned Warbler was seen today along with 30 Yellow-rumped Warblers. October 19: It was a great day of birding today in that all of the birds were active very close to the ground due to the windy, overcast, and cool conditions. I switched from detecting birds mostly by call note to actually seeing them hovering as kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees, and Yellow-rumped Warblers gleaned leaves in the lower canopy. Soon little of the canopy will be left as the forest floor is accumulating with leaves and fall colors appear near their peak. The numbers of birds were not high, however, numbers of White-throated Sparrows (29) seem bigger along with Dark-eyed Juncos (5). An Orange-crowned Warbler was in a flock near the lake feeding near the ground just a few meters away. There are four races of this warbler with the birds in Michigan being Vermivora celata celata, which breeds from Alaska across Canada to eastern Quebec, wintering mainly in the southeastern states. It is bird of brushy, and scrubby undergrowth where it feeds mostly on insects and spider eggs. A Fox Sparrow was again in the swamp as well as four Purple Finch containing an adult male feeding in a buckthorn. October 18: Rain in the past few mornings have cancelled the surveys but today it was dry, cloudy, and fairly warm in the mid-forties. The attempted survey on 16 October turned up a Blue-headed Vireo, but rain was persistent and not much of the route was completed. Today Hermit Thrushes (7) arrived in better numbers, where they are concentrating on berries, surprisingly high in the trees. Yellow-rumped Warblers (45) are abundant now and this is likely the beginning of their peak in the Area, but the only other warbler species was two Common Yellowthroats along Jenson’s Meadow. Swamp Sparrows (2) are fairly easy to find of late, both in the meadow and especially the swamp. Purple Finches (4) continue in decent numbers and are mostly heard flying over. A Fox Sparrow in the swamp was the first this year on the surveys being seen ten feet high in a viburnum vanishing low the brush with an emphatic smack! October 12: There were much higher numbers of migrants today than yesterday, but again they only appeared in one area of frenzied activity just northwest of Fairlane Lake. As I stood there, I counted 20 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 18 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 15 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 10 White-throated Sparrows, two Hermit Thrush, two White-crowned Sparrows, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Purple Finch, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch. Nashville Warblers are still around in numbers with two today, but there were probably a few more that accounted for some of the questionable flight calls overhead. There was only one Purple Finch today to follow up yesterday’s total of eleven, but Hermit Thrushes (3) are becoming easier to find. The rest of the Area was quiet except for the 101 Canada Geese that flew over the lake at dawn. Abruptly over the last few days the fall colors have become bright in ashes, hickories, sassafras, and a few sugar maples and many birds are congregating around the berries of Virginia Creeper and Poison Ivy. In the case of the Golden-crowned Kinglets, however, flocks can be found near the top of the trees that have not yet lost leaves or revealed fall colors. October 11: The birds have been very local in the Area, appearing almost absent at times and at others large numbers can be seen of mostly White-throated Sparrows, American Robins, Common Grackles, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and kinglets. There have been comparable numbers of Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets often in flocks with Yellow-rumped Warblers. Sometimes the Area has seemed vacant and dull, but with a little patience the Area’s migrants can be observed often feeding in a frenzy of the species mentioned above. Today there were comparable numbers of White-throated Sparrows (30) over the past few days, but clear changes in the numbers of other species. The large Common Grackle flock of about 160 birds was not observed today, however over fifty were still seen. Red-winged Blackbirds are typically just an odd flyover in the fall season, but today 23 were observed flying over the Area. An astonishing eleven Purple Finches were seen where seven were in a flock in the swamp. Red-breasted Nuthatches were present with two being heard today, along with three Winter Wrens. A Swamp Sparrow along with a few Song Sparrows were in the swamp, north of the Old Field. I found only one Hermit Thrush today and I would imagine they will begin an increase very soon. October 6: Another beautiful morning brought bigger numbers of White-throated Sparrows (25) and six Purple Finch. A few warblers continue in the Area including an Orange-crowned, Northern Waterthrush, two Nashville, and a Common Yellowthroat. Winter Wrens were really easy to find with a high count of seven on the survey today. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was calling in the same place as yesterday on the east side of Fairlane Lake. An American Kestrel flew south over the Environmental Interpretive Center just as the survey began and two Cooper’s Hawks are actively using the Area. A Swamp Sparrow showed up today and it’s a species that I’ll likely encounter more and more as fall progresses. October 5: Mornings have been very brisk over the last few days and today was no exception. Frost was on the grass. However, there were clear skies so the sun boosted the temperatures from 34 as the sun rose to 45 degrees when the survey ended. Over 50 Canada Geese are apparently roosting on Fairlane Lake, and each morning they lift off to likely feed in the surrounding fields in the Dearborn area. Fewer American Robins in the Area, but still good numbers flying over with 70 counted today from the survey. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was along Fairlane Lake and has been quite dependable over the last few days in the mornings. Another was heard in the Rose Garden. A
quiet, still meadow where little is heard demands a closer look at the
treetops where silent migrants could be flitting high in the canopy.
I had two Red-eyed Vireos this way feeding on insects along the meadow
edges and many Yellow-rumped Warblers flying over giving their distinctive
check call-notes. They are usually seen with a few Nashville Warblers.
These warblers have a very long migration period through this region where
they can be seen from August through October. It is unproven whether
the birds we see late in the season are those coming from further north
than those from earlier in the season. They are ground nesters of
mixed deciduous-coniferous forests where they feed high in the canopy but
come down low to incubate or feed their young. A female Black-throated
blue Warbler was near the Old Field, also a bird known for a long migration
and one that often is seen into late October. Other warblers are
around, including a Blackpoll and Black-throated Green Warbler. Today,
a high count for this year’s fall survey for Purple Finch with five in
the swamp. Leaping through the canary reed grass and disappearing
as it landed in the grass with each bound was a Red Fox
October 4: This morning was 54 degrees and the wind was from the northwest at about 12mph and gusty. The highlight today was a flock of five Blackpoll Warblers near the Old Field, leaving as quickly as they appeared. A Nashville Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, and a Red-eyed Vireo seemed to be the only remnants of “early fall” as it seems suddenly over the past 5 days the “true fall” has arrived. White-throated Sparrow (43), Hermit Thrush (4), Purple Finch (2) and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker have taken the place of warblers besides the Yellow-rumped Warblers (25). American Robins showed their highest numbers today with over 120 in the Area and Common Grackles showed similar numbers. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was calling along the Lakeside Trail. October 3: Freezing temperatures overnight produced a cool morning characteristic of the coming of October. The first Hermit Thrush was along Fairlane Lake, long awaited as they have been south of here in pretty high numbers already. A single Purple Finch flew over the lake followed by a few Yellow-rumped Warblers. Overall, warbler species were in low numbers with only two Magnolia and one Tennessee, besides seventeen Yellow-rumped Warblers. Golden-crowned Kinglets are now seen throughout the Area with six today. Three House Wrens were in the Swamp and Winter Wrens continue to be quite easy to find with two seen today. I had over 40 American Robins, which were just the minimal numbers and over 160 Common Grackles. American Crows showed up today when nine flew over the Old Field. I have seen them periodically over the past two weeks throughout Dearborn area and on the surveys with about ten total. They have been scarce in the Detroit area and these are likely migrants. White-throated Sparrows are numerous in the Swamp today with approximately twenty. September 29: The coolest morning this fall, with temperatures in the low fifties and a bit breezy from the north at about 12 mph. As dawn broke, just outside of the Environmental Interpretive Center, there was a nice flock of warblers with a few Brown Creepers, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and at least 20 American Robins. The robins weren’t flying over the Area in a constant stream like yesterday, but I still saw over 100 feeding on berries throughout the Area, especially of Poison Ivy. I had the first Orange-crowned Warbler today near the feeders where there is usually a good congregation of songbirds feeding in a walnut tree that gets hit by the light at 7:35AM now. It is a guest from the north, as far as the tree line. Its presence is just another astonishing proof of an incredibly long, and I’m sure perilous, journey. A
nice flock near the Old Field produced a Philadelphia Vireo with an insect
in its mouth. Today was odd in that I did not hear a Red-breasted
Nuthatch, as at least one or two have been heard or seen quite regularly
this fall on a daily basis. In the swamp there were over fifty Common
Grackles with about the same number of European Starlings perching on the
dead snags. This was where the first “wave” of a Yellow-rumped Warbler
flock passed through for this fall. There were about sixteen of them
and it was the start of what will soon be a regular occurrence of even
bigger flocks. It was a good day for Nashville and Black-throated
Green Warbler, the latter having this fall’s high count of seven for the
survey. Magnolia Warbler and American Redstart were four and five
respectively, being seen less today in comparison with the numbers of other
warblers. Another Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was in the Swamp to add
to yesterday’s bird.
September 28: A number of changes have occurred after the stronger north wind last night. Today was one of the first overcast mornings I have experienced this fall. A strong north wind was enough to cause some ripples on Fairlane Lake. Obvious changes were immediately recognized, with over 160 Common Grackles at the north end of the lake and 100 plus American Robins. A vocalization from one Canada Goose turned into about 100 at the lake. Before today, I had only seen a few on the survey this entire fall season. Typically from about this point in the season, over 100 will roost on the lake and leave at dawn each morning. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a fall arrival that was at the north end of the lake and a Northern Parula was a good bird this late in the fall, as was a Blackburnian Warbler. Today the leaves have noticeably started to reveal their colors, and American Basswood leaves are already dropping, as well as some Sugar Maples. Typically, I have been seeing no more than five Chimney Swifts flying over the meadow, and today there were over forty. Yellow-rumped Warblers have hit town in higher numbers, with six this morning. The common warblers were in decent numbers; I had three Nashville, two Magnolia, one Black-throated blue, one Black-throated Green, five Blackpoll, and two American Restarts. There was a Scarlet Tanager at the north end of the lake feeding high in the canopy. September 27: Decent numbers of migrants continue in the Area with a notable bird being a late Blue-winged Warbler seen just northwest of the lake feeding on airborne insects. I had mentioned that Nashville Warblers have been difficult to find this fall, but today things turned around and over seven were seen and many more were probably heard as flyovers. Common Yellowthroats abounded in the Area with at least four seen which is quite good for the type of habitat that the survey covers. I heard a White-crowned Sparrow call once just as I arrived, and it was one of those sounds that makes you question whether you heard the bird or not, especially since I have not heard them for over three months. Unmistakable, however, was the arrival of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Brown Creepers as they gave high-pitched call notes around Fairlane Lake. Today also marks the arrival of Yellow-rumped Warblers. How interesting it was to feel a sense of excitement for such a bird because in just a couple of weeks it will be typical for me to count over 50 in a two-hour survey. In southeast Michigan, they arrive as the first trees start revealing the fall colors. They are like messengers from the north, bringing fall with them from northern Michigan or Ontario where leaves are already bright, and fall weather is much more apparent. September 25: There was a switch to a northwest wind last night around 3:00AM and maybe that attributed to the major influx of warblers this morning. Before dawn, I went for a run around the neighborhood near Telegraph and Cherry Hill Rd. in Dearborn, and at 6:30AM I heard many call notes from overhead warblers flying through the darkness. A couple of miles to the east at the Natural Area at 7:45AM it was apparent that there were good numbers of migrants there as well. As I walked along the Lakeside Trail I saw few warblers but heard them everywhere. I thought to myself that many more birds were around than what I was seeing and it was just a matter of time before the trees would be hopping. A drab Cape May Warbler was at the south end of the lake in low light and a few Magnolia Warblers and American Redstarts. Sure enough, at 9:30AM on the west side of Fairlane Lake they came in the dozens. An adult male Black-throated Blue Warbler (large handkerchief and dark mantle with faint black streaks lacking brown tone) flitted in a low Sugar Maple along the trail and movement was peppered throughout the trees in the under-story and canopy. There were three Blackpoll, two Nashville, one Tennessee, two Black-throated Green, and a few American Redstarts and Magnolia Warblers. After a short walk up the trail, I was amongst a passing flock of over 15 Blackpoll Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, Warbling Vireo, and many more of the species mentioned above. A second Cape May Warbler was along the edge of the north end of the lake. There was a chance that some of the birds were those I had seen at the south end of the lake, so I do not count them to avoid any chance of recounting a bird twice. However, looking at this extensive flock made me realize that that was very unlikely as the birds continued to come in a massive wave, but I held true to my methods and just noted them. All throughout the Area warblers were constantly seen or heard. Surprisingly, the swamp held fewer birds which supports my theory that if the lake and meadows are holding migrants there are usually fewer birds in the swamp and vice versa. The reason for this is unknown and could, of course, be entirely a figment of my imagination! A fall arrival was a Blue-headed Vireo. Hopefully the birds will stick around for a few more days to allow other people to witness what could be the peak of fall warbler migration in the Area. September 22: This morning it was clear that many new migrants have arrived indicated by the constant call-notes of overhead passerines. Just behind the EIC at the start of the morning I found a Blackburnian, American Redstart, and Black-throated Green Warbler. Chipping Sparrows are now hanging around there, probably brought by the birdfeeders that are now in use. I missed many birds as they continued to fly by or quickly perch, never letting me set eyes on them. A couple of Black-throated blue Warblers and a Northern Waterthrush were at the north end of Fairlane Lake, and many warblers that were just unidentifiable as they perched at the canopy in early morning light. The Lakeside Trail held few birds but Scott Jennex reported a Gray-cheeked Thrush and a decent flock of warblers at the south end of the lake. The morning continued with much of the same in that consistent, unidentifiable call notes were heard, but many birds were unseen. Three Winter Wrens were observed and at least four Swainson’s Thrush. A couple more Black-throated blue Warblers, an empidonax flycatcher, and two Red-breasted Nuthatches finished the morning. I went the allotted time for the survey and could not make it to the swamp before class. A very unfortunate circumstance because there were many birds still to be found. September 21: Magnolia Warblers continue in strong numbers with twelve today and eight yesterday. A Northern Parula in the Old Field was the first for the fall surveys. Winter Wrens are spread throughout the Area where at least four were seen. This is early for that many to be observed and today’s count of four is the highest I have ever seen in the Area in one day. American Redstarts are still around in abundance and flocks of a few are scattered around, especially at the Old Field. As the swamp brightened and warmed up with the sun, Indigo Buntings, Song Sparrows, and Northern Flickers began singing. I stood among them and was reminded of an early summer morning. An Ovenbird was calling at the north end of the lake and a couple of Blackpoll Warblers were in the swamp with a Nashville Warbler that was gleaning the leaves near the ground. They have been tricky to find this fall and I’ve not seen them everyday and it is much the same with Chestnut-sided Warbler. Some species are abundant in the Area in fall one year and some years they are much harder to find. Many things could account for this, and by no means should it be attributed to nesting success during the summer because there are so many things that could affect my ability to detect them. Their migration may have been very spread out in time where low numbers were in the Area each day, or even more likely, I could have just missed them completely. A two-hour survey is very limited with respect to a 12-hour day. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how long the abundant Magnolia Warblers and American Redstarts continue and what the rest of the month brings in other species. September 20: The clear, calm morning in the low sixties was ideal weather for observing, and there were good numbers of passerines, especially American Robins, near the Environmental Interpretive Center. American Redstarts and Magnolia Warblers occupied the Area in high numbers where there were nine and eight respectively on the two-hour survey. Other warblers were few in number, but three Tennessee Warblers and two Northern Waterthrushes were noteworthy. The swamp held most of the birds today, where the two Northern Waterthrushes were calling amidst a flock of approximately 40 Common Grackles and many woodpeckers, Blue Jays, and other passerines. Northern Flickers and Downy Woodpeckers were numerous with about ten each on the two-hour survey today, but they are congregating around certain trees. I have been seeing up to five Northern Flickers using one tree, utilizing dead ash or berries from Virginia creeper (or the insects on them). The Winter Wren on 18 September 2004 was an early date and today there were three more individuals besides the three banded on 19 September. I found two calling together just south of the Old Field north of Fairlane Lake. Another popped up from the canary grass in the swamp. As
I walked a trail, I spooked up an Ovenbird and heard another bird calling
very close. It sounded like the “smack” call-note of another Ovenbird,
but it was higher-pitched and coming from the canopy -- a bit strange for
an Ovenbird. It was a strain to find the sound-maker and a bit disappointing
as it revealed itself as just a Blackpoll Warbler, but nonetheless, it
was a call note I had never heard by that species before. It was
a loud, emphatic, one-syllable call-note seeming much too loud and noticeable
from an eight gram warbler. Could this be a remnant of vocalizations
made on nesting grounds many hundreds of miles north of here? Does
one have the right to be disappointed by the outcome of the call-note as
just a “common” warbler? A short pondering over the natural history
of this species ,one cannot refer to the Blackpoll Warbler as anything
“common”. The little bird has the ability to undertake a non-stop
trans-Atlantic flight from along the east coast to northern South America
in a little less than three days. This drab bird with a pale yellow
wash and indistinct streaking becomes much brighter in this light as it
heads further into the floodplain to continue on its journey.
September 18: It was a very cool morning, with wind coming from the north over the last two days. The first sunlight shined through the understory near the Environmental Interpretive Center where a couple of Magnolia Warblers were feeding near the ground on insects. There was not a noticeable influx of migrants, but still good numbers throughout the Area. The first bird I heard and later saw near the feeders was one of the first White-throated Sparrows seen this fall. Along the lakeside trail I heard the call of the first fall migrant Winter Wren, a very Song Sparrow-like jit. This is an early date for a fall Winter Wren; most don’t come through until late September through October. It showed itself only once as it flitted right along the water’s edge with stubby tail straight up at a 90-degree angle from its body. This little bird, one of the smallest songbird species we’ll likely encounter, is a migrant from the north where they are quite common in bogs or partially logged wet forests with overturned trees. They build a burrow-like nest in the root system and males sing a cascading series of notes that pierce through the North woods. Some occasionally winter this far north and can be seen around thickets and downed trees scurrying near the ground. A couple of drab Blackburnian Warblers were around the lake, in just a shadow of their former springtime plumage. Most birds were around the meadows and lake and few were seen in the swamp. However, there was a large flock of approximately forty Common Grackles raucously making their presence known. September 15: The meadows south of Fairlane Lake are now hit by direct sunlight at 8:15AM, and it is not until then when most warblers can be identified by sight. The first trees that are hit are those on the west side of Jensen’s Meadow where I found a few Nashville and Magnolia Warblers to start the morning. There was a large push of American Robins today evident in their almost constant presence throughout the Area. I had 58 on the survey but hundreds were flying over campus or seen elsewhere in the Area outside of the survey. It was an average day with only six species of warblers. A nice surprise was a lone Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in the swamp. It is a little flycatcher with a bold eye-ring, buffy wing-bars, olive throat and breast, and a greenish overall color. It comes to us from the spruce bogs of the northern forests-a gem in the swamp today. September 14: I stood in the meadow at the corner of Fairlane Lake and it was there that today’s bulk of migrants appeared actively feeding on insects. One could close their eyes, eliminate call notes, and still know there were a couple of dozen warblers by the sounds of snapping bills. A Magnolia Warbler pricked an insect on a leaf and missed. The warbler followed it as the insect flew away from the branch and made another attempt only to miss it again. The bird tumbled and fanned its tail as it fell towards the ground, snapping its bill twice more before letting the small moth go. A good day for spruce specialists of northern coniferous forests as I saw over five Tennessee and Bay-breasted Warblers and even more Blackpoll Warblers. The lone flock near the lake held one Blackburnian, three Tennessee, four Bay-breasted, five Blackpoll, four Magnolia, one American Redstart, four Black-throated Green, and one Warbling Vireo. A female Black-throated Blue was along the Lakeside Trail very early and a Chestnut-sided was in the swamp north of the lake where there was also a Scarlet Tanager and a few more warblers. It is an area very unpleasant now with the mosquitoes and still probably holding many of the same resident birds from the summer. Consistently, there are at least three juvenile Song Sparrows and Indigo Buntings. Migrants
are seen throughout the Area today and I now feel the sense of excitement
associated with migration. However, there is a feeling of frustration,
as there were many birds I could not lay eyes on and I had fleeting glimpses
of birds that went unidentified. What will they do tonight and in
the early morning hours of the 15th? Leave and follow the Rouge River
further in dim light fueled by this feeding frenzy I observed today?
Take on a non-stop long distance flight heading to the southeastern states?
Stay here to be once again in the view of my binoculars feeding and tumbling
after insects that will soon be fuel for their travel south of this country?
September 13: Yesterday’s push of songbirds was followed up today with substantially fewer birds in the nets and on the survey. A Great Horned Owl flew over the north end of Fairlane Lake today, evidently flushed by my presence or deciding it had its fill of mobbing passerines. The three Double-crested Cormorants that have been at the lake over the past few days are now joined by three more. They are all sub-adult and one is clearly a juvenile. They prefer the north end of the lake under the lily pads where the cormorants are reminiscent of some aquatic snake from a distance as they stick out there heads from the thick vegetation. The warblers in the Area are a bit flighty and hard to see, but the majority are Blackpoll and Magnolia Warbler. The meadow warmed up very quickly this morning and felt much like a sauna, with transpiration noticeably occurring on the hawthorns at the north end of Jenson’s Meadow, pouring out water vapor like smoke. This forest edge warmed by the sun is a magnet to birds who have not eaten all night and in the throesof hyperphagia. The first areas exposed to the sun’s rays host the first diurnal insect life and attract songbirds which glean the branches and usually in good viewing light for the observer. An Eastern Phoebe was in the swamp today feeding from dead snags by quickly flying out in the open to catch an airborne insect. The vegetation in the swamp is like a sponge that drips water in the morning and is slowly ringed out as the day progresses. That in addition to the bothersome insects made that part of the survey rather unpleasant. September 11: This morning was very pleasant in the mid-fifties and clear. The night was calm turning to a slight southwest wind by 8:00AM. There were fewer migrants yesterday and today after the switch from the strong north wind on the 9th to the light south wind over the last two days. Although
weather plays a crucial role in when birds arrive in the Area, each species
has a time frame or “window” during which the highest numbers of that species
occupies the Natural Area. Some birds, such as the Mourning Warbler,
have a somewhat narrow “window” where most are seen in the first and second
week in September. Lower numbers surely move through the Area in
August and throughout September, but our major movement is the first half
of the month. Connecticut Warblers are similar, coming through in
the second and third week in September where multiple individuals are typically
seen. Species that are more numerous such as Black-throated blue
Warblers are the opposite in that they have a less restricted time frame.
They are equally expected in good numbers in the beginning of September
through the first half of October. Purple Finch migration is even
more protracted as migrating birds are seen regularly from September through
November. Other factors that influence when and for how long a species
comes through are the extent of the breeding range, timing of nesting,
and length of migration.
September 9: Light rain before dawn was just enough to delay banding until 8:00AM and kept the morning overcast. Due to the light, I delayed the survey one hour and immediately it was apparent there was an influx of songbirds since yesterday. Continuous call notes from flyover warblers were my introduction to the Fall 2004 season. As is typical for warblers here in fall, I observed a number of separate feeding flocks, each with a dense concentration of birds. The common components of these flocks were the Black-capped Chickadees and Tufted Titmice that noticeably dominate the orchestra of call notes. The chickadees and titmice were the lead singers and the warblers the background choir, much more numerous but less conspicuous in sound. That is, indeed, the way to find warblers. Often an observer will see few birds until a flock passes through like a gentle breeze coming abruptly with one suddenly standing amidst a barrage of call notes. It passes on just as fast as it is noticed leaving nothing but a lingering call note from an unseen Magnolia Warbler. For how long have one of these flocks been traveling together? Is this a composition of a warbler flock that formed along the Great Lakes or is this a mixture of newly arrived migrants traveling from anywhere, but all using the Natural Area to refuel and stay away from predators until their departure? Not all of the warblers today were seen in these isolated moving flocks. A male Mourning Warbler and Common Yellowthroat sounded an emphatic chich call note, the yellowthroat being louder and harsher. The Mourning Warbler fit right in where I found it amidst jewelweed and raspberry -- an open spot away from the cover of trees, yet still much more difficult to see than most other warblers. The Area held eighteen species of warblers today with one flock standing out just west of the Environmental Interpretive Center (EIC). A domestic cat was hiding in a tree cavity but was luring a mob of warblers calling at the threat. A bizarre sight where dozens of warblers gave alarm calls within inches of the cat, surely putting their lives in danger. I remember watching a Bay-breasted Warbler and thinking of what other perils it must have faced since left the spruce forests of northern Canada. Standing below a flock, with each bird contributing to a combined mileage of tens of thousands of miles already, surely this simple, yet serious threat is just the beginning, as each bird continues much farther to lands equally unknown. [Note: Outdoor cats, such as the ones dumped here on campus, kill millions of songbirds annually. For more information, please see the American Bird Conservancy's Cats Indoors campaign.]
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