visit from Donald Kroodsma — birdsong expert
Generally I try to avoid getting up at 5am on a Saturday, but I did so gladly last weekend when renowned birdsong expert Donald Kroodsma came to town and led an early morning outing to listen for birds at Nubanusit Neighborhood.
His visit was co-sponsored by the Harris Center for Conservation Education, and he gave an interesting, informative talk there Friday evening that included listening to lots of birdsong. But the real fun was Saturday morning.
Unfortunately it was pouring rain at 5am, the time Don had agreed to head outside with whoever wanted to get up that early. Despite the weather, Dori and I joined Don on the porch of the common house and considered our options as it rained and lightening flashed. After some minutes, though, the thunder passed and we actually heard a bird start singing — a brave (and wet) chipping sparrow. Then a robin. The rain seemed to let up a bit, so we put up our rain hoods and headed off the porch.
The morning eventually brought lots of wonderful birds to listen to (and some to see), as we made our way across the veggie field, up the cow lane, over to the top of the horse pasture, and back down through the hayfield.
A little later, folks from outside of Nubi came for the “official” part of the morning walk and were treated to some excellent birdsong from warblers, a catbird, and more, some of which Dr. Kroodsma recorded and then played back for folks when we went back inside our Common House and he told us more about the amazing sound world of birds.
Here’s a link to a humorous “dawn chorus” video that Dr. Kroodsma showed the group when we were inside:
http://www.picture-this.org.uk/worksprojects/works/by-date/2007/dawn-chorus
Here’s a list of what I managed to hear or see that morning (at least the ones I could identify):
Canada Goose
Killdeer
Mourning Dove
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
