Vireos - the birds you've heard but never seen

There is a plain bird, perhaps the plainest, a tiny thumb-sized bird with grey above and dusty white below. You most likely have never seen the Warbling Vireo but you for sure have heard this day time singer. The vireos are warbler like in size, migratory, insectivores that grab caterpillars from the leaves and flies from the air. They are non-descript in looks and non-descript in behavior, lurking high up in deciduous trees like oaks and maples. But vireos make themselves known by their loud, repetitive song. Unlike a chickadee for example, that has specific phrases to its song like the namesake “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” vireos are more improvisational giving a series of evenly spaced though varying phrases. The Red-eyed vireo’s song is often described as the phrases “here I am, where are you? Pick it up, put it down. Over here, over there” and on and on. The spacing and tempo of these phrases is a crucial tool for field identification. Of the three vireos we are most likely to find this time of year we can separate them out using the spacing of phrases. The Blue-headed vireo’s song is bury and husky, and slowly delivered. With a slightly faster delivery and a far greater stamina, the Red-eyed vireo’s song is often song throughout the day from a high vantage point, and sung with long determination. Finally, the Warbling Vireo who’s song has no breaks in it at all, but instead is a kind of rush of sound, the way a child might taunt a slower child into a chase on the playground, “nana nana na-na-na”. Learning to hear these subtle differences will unlock some new, hard to spot species singing over your head all summer long.

Where do they go...?

Spring bird migration tip #6

“If I want to see all the birds of the world I need to be rich.” Sorry this one is just true. Quit your job, book flights to circumnavigate the globe, and hire the best guides – yup you need to be rich. But finding 25 species of warblers in the middle of Cambridge, MA at Mt. Auburn Cemetery will run you $2.00 to ride the #71 or #73 bus from Harvard Square and an old pair of binoculars. 

Spring bird migration tip #5

“I have to wake up early to see the birds.” Yes and no. It often comes as a major surprise that the tiny song birds that travel from South and Central America are actually flying at night. This fact has only become clear to scientists in the past few decades in large part to use of Doppler RADAR. Large areas or “angels” were being seen on weather radar, moving a velocity not consistent with the wind direction. It turns out that travel at night means less turbulent air and smoother flight and the presence of diurnal predators like Cooper Hawks and small falcons.  Birds leave shortly after sunset and fly for several hours landing pre-dawn to rest, and eat, eat, eat.

Spring bird migration tip #4

“Spring bird watching is only good on warm sunny days.” False! Birds travel at night, often utilizing southerly winds. When these tiny voyagers hit a soggy, fogged morning there is often “fall out” when birds come down to the safety and bug buffet of the woods and fields. This phenomenon is made more dramatic near large bodies of water like the Gulf of Mexico and the great lakes. There are stories of Texas beaches literally littered with tiny song birds at dawn, birds that collapse on the sandy shore after crossing the gulf in a single flight.

Spring bird migration tip #3

“I live in the city, I can’t see any birds.” False! The same concept as habitat scarcity applies here. Humans create open areas such as farms, airports, and power lines all wonderful places to look for birds. The long stretch of concrete jungle in the Northeast means that any little bit of green becomes attractive to migrants. What are often called “green islands” are concentrated with migrating birds that stop over to spend a day or two refueling on bugs before continuing their journey north. Consider a city park (Central Park, New York is famous for its migrating birds) or a cemetery (like Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge).

Spring bird migration tip #2

“To find birds I need to hike deep into the mountains.” Nope… remember, beautiful is not always better for birds. Large tracts of undisturbed forest, miles of pristine beach, and large lakes and rivers are not always the best places to look for spring migrants. While these natural areas will support the breeding species come summer, during spring migration birds may be “diluted” in these large natural areas. To see higher concentrations of birds consider habitat sacristy and habitat diversity. Habitats that are no longer common in New England such as salt water marsh or open meadow attract habitat specific birds and (due to human development) are increasingly limited making them prime locales during migration. Habitat diversity is an area where different habitats meet such as where forest meets field or a wetland within a forest. Spend time around habitat edges to find species typical of both habitats.

Spring bird migration tip #1

What am I witnessing? Remember that many of the birds you are seeing are in the midst of a tremendous journey having traveled 500-2000 miles, averaging 150 miles a night. Many of these birds are passing through on their way to northern New England and Canada. Seeing spring migrants is seeing a tiny slice of a global movement, a truly amazing sight!

Here come the migrants - deep breathes

The month of May for bird watchers is like April for tax accountants, June for school teachers, and December for Santa Claus. It is the promise of new birds, the frustration of unrewarded work, and joy of finding something amazing. It is rising at 4:30am to bird watch prior to work, it is filled with soft rain, lacy flowering trees, and all the sounds of the jungle. For a new bird watcher May in New England can range from frustrating to exhilarating in a single morning. Over forty species of warblers alone pass through New England not to mention numerous vireos, thrush, and flycatchers and they all simultaneously fill the leafy tree canopies gulping down grubs and flies. To prepare for this magical season of bent necks and soggy sneakers the Daily Bird New England will become your personal motivational speaker.Over the next two weeks we will work to debunk many myths and give you some quick and dirty tips to make the most out of this fleeting month of birds. Cause if you bird watch good enough, smart enough, gosh-darn-it you'll find birds.