by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager

The rain ended just in time for our bird walk on Tuesday.  It wasn’t a spectacular birding morning, but it was a good chance to hear some of the bird songs that we haven’t heard for a few months.  Cardinals, Catbirds and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were in the background most of the morning.

The Wood Thrushes were singing loudly, which made the walk worthwhile.  The Ovenbirds were the most vocal that I have heard this spring.  Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were also singing during a lot of the walk. 

We heard Black and White Warblers most of the morning.  We also heard a Worm-eating Warbler along the Main Trail.  When we got to the meadows we heard Common Yellowthroats and a Blue-winged Warbler.  We also heard the Great-crested Flycatcher, the first of the season for me.  The Eastern Towhees were singing around the meadow.  A male bluebird was also in the meadow perched on a box. 

At the end of the walk we heard a Yellow-throated Vireo and saw an Eastern Phoebe.  Mornings like this really emphasize why learning bird songs is helpful.  The mist and fog made finding birds very difficult.  Next week, we will be headed to Giving Pond.  This is a great bird destination with lots of variety.  We will meet at the Nature Center at 7:30 a.m. and car pool, or you can meet us at the location around 8:00 a.m.

by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager

Beginning this week (May 1), Mariton will be leading bird walks on Tuesday mornings until the end of the month.  We will start at Mariton this Tuesday, and then visit different natural areas in the following weeks.  There are a number of spring migrants returning.  This week will be a tune up for our ears (as we listen to bird songs) and our necks (as we look up into the tree tops).  Bring binoculars, or borrow a pair of ours. 

This Tuesday, we will start at the Nature Center at 8:00 a.m.  On following weeks, we will meet at 7:30 a.m. here, and then carpool to the different locations.  We welcome all levels of birders.  While we love to bird, this group also stops to smell the flowers (literally).  We are often distracted by wildflowers, butterflies, fungi and other wonders of nature.  Please contact me if you plan to attend, so we can plan the carpools.

The Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) is a beautiful warbler that breeds in our area during the summer, and winters as far south as Central America.  It has a loud, brilliant song to proclaim its territory.  Of course, the male’s trademark is the “Lone Ranger” mask, but both males and females have the bright yellow throat.  It can be found in marshes and thickets.  At Mariton, it likes the meadows on top of the hill and the brushy area under the powerlines.  We also hear them along the edge of the yard.

The Common Yellowthroat is just one of nine different species of Yellowthroats.  This group of warblers is found in Central and South America.  As far as I can tell, only the Common Yellowthroat migrates to North America.  (So, the common in its name refers to its broad range, and not the appearance of this stunning bird.)

The Common Yellowthroat can be tough to see in the spring.  They skulk in the underbrush, vines, and tall grasses.  As the spring progresses, and their young fledge, they suddenly become more visible.  We tend to get better views of them on the Butterfly Census, than we do on the different bird censuses.  (All photos by Carole Mebus.)

On Saturday, while tallying the numbers from the Bird Census.  I heard something knocking upstairs in the Nature Center.  I went upstairs and saw five turkeys on the apron in front of the entrance.  One Tom Turkey was all puffed up trying to intimidate the young males and the ”other handsome Tom” (his reflection in the glass doors).  He banged several times at his reflection trying to scare the interloper off.  I eventually interceded by showing myself, and then washed the windows.

(Ovenbird with a caterpillar.)

Today was the THIRTIETH (30th !!!) Annual Nesting Bird Census at Mariton! Using our ears and eyes we tally all the birds that we hear singing, or see.  We assume that by this time of the year, most birds have established nesting territories.  The tally from our 4.5 hour/2 mile route was 45 species and 256 individual birds.  That is an average result for the Nesting Census.

We realize that we miss birds, but it gives us a snapshot rather than a time-elapsed movie of birds summering at Mariton.  Both methods have their pros and cons.  An advantage of the one-time census is that it is easier to assemble volunteer birders to count.  A disadvantage is that some birds may be already raising young, and too busy to sing.

We did come across two pairs of Ovenbirds that we could hear advertising their territories in the distance.  When we reached those areas, they suddenly began scolding and trying to lead us away.  It was a sure sign that we were close to a nest.  In fact, we saw one fledgling Ovenbird flapping in the undergrowth below the scolding adults.  Ovenbirds were the most numerous species, and we counted 21 individuals.  This is one of the agitated Ovenbirds.  Its head feathers are ruffled.

Another highlight was a male Scarlet Tanager along the River Lookout Trail.  This bird was near the tree tops, but because of the steep drop-off, he was at our eye level.  (No Warbler Neck!)  This fellow was very cooperative declaring his territory from bare branches where we could get a good look.

We also watched a pair of Orioles.  Realizing that the nest was probably nearby, Dan scanned the branch tips until he spotted the nest right above us.  Here is a photo of the Oriole nest.  (All photos by Carole Mebus.)

My favorite was probably a Veery singing at the beginning of the River Lookout Trail that had a beautiful voice .  We heard seven Veerys this morning, but this bird’s voice was enchanting.

Of course, much thanks goes to the seven volunteers who got up early on a Saturday morning to lend their talents and count the birds.  Thanks Jim, Doug, Virginia, Anne, Carole, Sharon and Dan.