Tree swallows – spring arrives on a flash of blue wing

photo by Anne Greene

The tree swallow is a dart of a bird that winters as far south as Central America, Florida, and Baja and returns to New England meadows and marshes in April on a path of weaving bobs and streaming wires of iridescence. On the wing and in bad light Tree swallows can appear black on the back with a white belly, but when perched on a nesting box or dead branch the true colors of the swallow become clear, a rich, glossy violet. Swallows are aerial hunters of the finest form. They “hawk” insects on the wing and from afar appear engaged in a lunatic’s spiral. In spring swallows migrate in loose bands but come fall amass in huge flocks by the thousands. Tree swallows are cavity nesters and can be found in meadows where bluebird boxes are present or in the dead trees above a beaver pond. Watch for these aerial masters as they have returned to New England.

Larkwire - new tool for learning birdsong

I was lucky enough to receive an educator's copy of a great new app called Larkwire. Designed by cognitive psychologist, Phil Mitchell and bird watchers Mark Johnston and Michael O'Brien this app is teaching bird song recognition in a smart and accessible way. Developed with an eye to learning theory Larkwire is more like memory match meets the Dating Game then any kind of dry sound library of bird song. This app has two modes: the Field Game and the Gallery Game. Both allow you to listen to a song and try and identify the species of bird by photo. While the Field Game plays a song and then slowly reveals the singer, the Gallery Game gives you four bachelors and then repeatedly plays each song of the four species making you match the song to one of the four singers. If you select the correct species you score a point, select the wrong species and you loose a point. This form of repetition (being the basis of learning)  allows the listener to gain a deep knowledge of each species' song over time. Besides this seamless learning style the program also groups birds into similar sound categories (eg: "Warblers - Clear Whistles" or "Sparrow-Like Musical and Buzzy"). I find that grouping like sounds to be the best to approach when learning bird song. It allows the beginner birder to piece together field observations. 

This App is available for smart phones, tablets and PCs through Itunes. Larkwire has the Master Birder set for $45 which contains over 500 species of land and water birds from both the east and west region of the country all the way down to a beginner set for $3.95. I'd recommend the "Birder Pro Land Birds" for your region (east or west) at $16.95 this will get you started with back yard birds and keep you busy for years as you develop an ear for the subtle calls of warblers, flycatchers, and vireos. 

Following bird migration into New England

Birds on the Doppler radar

One of the most fascinating story lines to the spring migration is the fact that the armies of  mice-sized warblers, sparrows, flycatchers, and thrush headed north are migrating during the night. This incredible fact was made real when air safety controllers reporting "angels" on the Doppler radar. Round, widening circles of objects that were not being pushed east by the wind, did not shift the way clouds did, but rather seemed to spring up from the earth in growing circles. Doppler radar picks up "stuff" in the air. From clouds to hail, pollen, smoke, even bats, birds and locust. It took ornithologists some time to figure out what these strange circles were and what it meant for the casual bird watcher. In recent years this data has proved to tell an amazing migratory story and the intricacies of weather conditions, geography and water, even selective habitats for stop overs. Two people are making this information accessible to the casual bird watcher. 

David LaPuma out of the midwest has a great website dedicated to watching bird migration via radar. See more at Woodcreeper.com 

In New England Tom Auer gives the New England perspective. See more from Tom Auer

Whether you want to time a bird watching trip or just revel in the secretive journey of these tiny jungle birds I'd recommend visiting these sites. 

Spring Migration Spots - from Mass Audubon

A good article about spring migration sites around the state from Mass Audubon

POSTED ON APRIL 20, 2013 BY HILLARY

Great Bird Migration Spots

It’s the event that bird watchers around the state have been waiting for: spring migration, the time of year when birds leave their winter grounds and head north. Typically, spring migration in Massachusetts lasts from early March to early June, with the peak usually falling sometime around Mother’s Day for many species.

So where do in-the-know birders go to best enjoy this annual occurrence? In addition to our many and varied sanctuaries statewide, listed below are a few of Mass Audubon’s favorite birding spots.

Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge and Watertown

Why Mt. Auburn, on the border of Cambridge and Watertown, is a “migrant trap” – a sizable area of greenery within a highly-developed urbanized area. The many trees, water features, and ornamental shrubs in the cemetery offers a safe place for birds to rest, find food, and prepare for  the next leg of their migratory journey.

What Songbirds, especially vireos, warblers, thrushes, and sparrows.

How This is such a popular spot that many Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries offer walksthrough Mt. Auburn during spring migration.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newbury and Newburyport

Why The extensive and varied habitats of this strategically located barrier island offer ideal stopover conditions for migrants along the coast, a pathway that many migrating birds follow in both spring and fall. The combination of salt, brackish, and freshwater wetlands as well as extensive coastal thickets attracts a wide variety of species. Birders like the area because many species are relatively easy to observe on the refuge.

What Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is attractive to a wide variety of species, but especially waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, and warblers in late spring and early fall.

How Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport runs Wednesday and Saturday morning birding programs through Parker River National Wildlife Refuge as well as other great area locations.

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"What Do the Birders Know?" from the NYT

By Brian Kimberling
Published: April 19, 2013

A BIRD-WATCHER is a kind of pious predator. To see a new bird is to capture it, metaphorically, and a rare bird or an F.O.Y. (First of the Year, for the uninitiated) is a kind of trophy. A list of birds seen on a given day is also a form of prayer, a thanksgiving for being alive at a certain time and place. Posting that list online is a 21st-century form of a votive offering. It’s unclear what deity presides.

There was prestige in knowing birds in ancient Rome, and there is prestige today. There are also competitive insect enthusiasts and tree connoisseurs and fungus aficionados, but they lack the cultural stature and sheer numbers of bird-watchers. There are 5.8 million bird-watchers in the United States, slightly more than the number of Americans in book clubs or residents of Wisconsin. That’s a huge army of primitive hunter-mystics decked out in sturdy hiking boots and nylon rain gear, consulting their smartphones to identify or imitate a particular quarry.

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Turing over leaves looking for spring – the Hermit thrush

This first thrush (of the six that visit New England) has returned. The Hermit thrush like all Turdidae, are brown backed and white bellied birds the size and shape of a robin. With varying degrees of spotting on the throat and belly, these forest birds forage along the ground, over turning leaves and kicking up twigs. While nondescript in looks the thrush family are vocal virtuosos, like the avian Susan Boyle, they fill the drip-green forests, cathedral high, with flute spun cantatas and rolling, watery arias. 

The Hermit thrush spends the winter as close as New Jersey and returns to New England in April. Separating the Hermit thrush from its closely patterned cousins the Swainsons, Grey-cheeked, and Veery can be tricky. Look for a drab, brown back with strikingly richer, ruddy brown tail. The Hermit thrush tends to droop its wings below the body, unique to the species, and often gently bobs its tail. They flit across the trail, low to the ground on short flights and seem nervous, wary of any human presence. Matching the coloration of dried leaves and spring dirt the thrush can be hard to spot so listening for the rustle of leaves is a good way to find one. Most comfortable in the fading light of dusk, an evening walk in the forest this time of year will likely turn up a Hermit thrush and soon the signing will begin. 

Warblers return to New England – the Pine warbler

Songbird migration is like the shaking of an enormous snow globe in which the plastic chips have been replaced by songbirds. One of the first tiny flecks of yellow to settle into the treetops of New England is the Pine warbler. An inconspicuous, unembellished little bird with canary yellow bellow and a dusty green and grey back, they are aptly named and spend the day catching insects from the tops of conifers. Two white wing bars and a loud monotone song are subtle giveaways to identifying the Pine warbler. Listen for the slurry trill from high in the tree tops  , a much less mechanical song than the insect like buzz of the Chipping sparrow.

Spring Bird Song Crash Course day four – Carolina Wren

Along with the chickadee, titmouse and cardinal the Carolina Wren adds a bright, loud song to New England backyards. This wren’s two most distinctive songs are the rolling, “tea-kettle,tea-kettle, tea-kettle” or an up-slurred, fast paced “churrily-churrily-churrily” this rolling song can speed up to an almost “purr.”

March bird song – learn it early

The morning sky is again held up with sound. Winter’s cruel quiet a mix of breath and stars has given way to a small but hardy morning chorus of bird song. Birds like the Red-winged blackbird have returned to Southern New England and joined the songs of the Northern Cardinal and Tufted titmouse. The east coast awaits a May deluge of southern migrants making these mornings a good time to learn the songs of the more common birds. Listen in particular for the “laser tag” blasts of the Northern cardinal and the “peter-peter” of the Tufted titmouse. Birds sing for many reasons and spring is the time for both courtship and nest site selection and singing males are most likely working both angles although the Northern cardinal represents one of a few North American female songsters.

Though it is called “bird watching”, bird song plays just as important a role in locating and identifying birds. “Bird listening” could be just as good a name. Especially, with the perfectly timed return of the twitchy migrants like warblers with the bursting out of leaves, song can be the only clue to answer the where and what. In anticipation of the coming influx spend some time listening to bird songs in particular those of warblers, vireos, and thrushes. It will pay dividends come May when the trees and air are filled with song.

Learning Spring Bird Songs – a crash course

The neo-tropical migrants (song birds that winter in the tropics) will return starting in mid-April and fill the New England woods straight through until the end of May. Preparing for this fleeting invasion of little, brightly colored birds is one of the great bird watching traditions. The key to finding the myriad of warblers, thrush, vireos, and buntings that will soon fill New England with color and noise is learning what to listen for. Seeing these small, agile birds moving through newly opened leaves is tough, and is only possible by learning each bird's song. There are dozens of species that will find their way to New England and learning all them can be daunting. The key is repetition and a head start. So brew some coffee, turn off the television, and prepare for an old-fashion cram session. For the next few weeks the Daily Bird New England will give up glossy photos, glib humor, and poetic meanderings for hard noise, crib notes: one day, one bird, one song. There will be no images, no life history, just a name and sound, and a few pneumonic devices to remember it by. The progression of species should naturally scaffold learning on the previous bird. Weekends of course are still for fun. Get ready to cram.   

Live Camera on Red-tailed Hawk's nest from Cornell

Watch live streaming video from cornellhawks at livestream.com

Cornell Lab of Ornithology on Warblers

Mass Audubon Focus on Feeders - 2012 Results

Mass Audubon has been using citizen generated data (known as "citizen science") to monitor populations of feeder birds in Massachusetts. This year's data has been turned in and analysed by Mass Audubon staff and the results are very interesting. Here is an excerpt of the report posted on their website.  

• Bird activity was markedly reduced at feeders this year. Overall numbers reported were down, with all but 3 species on our list (House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch) less likely to be reported than during Focus on Feeders 2011. This relative absence of feeder birds was most likely caused by the extremely warm temperatures and lack of snowfall we experienced over the winter. It will be interesting to follow this trend in subsequent winters, to see if changes due to climate warming affect activity at feeders in the long run.  Most climate models predict that we will experience substantial fluctuations in weather from year to year, and we’ll be watching closely to see how the birds react.


• Despite the notable absence of birds from Massachusetts feeders this winter, species rank order remained similar to past years (i.e., the same species were most commonly reported). One exception was the increase in rank-order for American robin. Again, warm winter temperatures likely allowed many individuals to remain in the Commonwealth for the winter, whereas they’d be inclined to migrate to warmer climes most years. Another exception was a sharp drop in rank-order for blue jay. Blue jays showed the most dramatic declines of all species in general, with approximately one-third fewer participants seeing them at their feeders this year. Massachusetts Christmas Bird Counts also indicate that blue jays are notably scarce this winter, due in part to last fall’s significant shortage of acorns.


• Other notable decreases were in sightings of red-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, American tree sparrow, and pine siskin. Note that pine siskin is one of our “irruptive” species, so would be expected to vary greatly from year to year.  However, Mass Audubon’s State of the Birds Report indicates that this species is also showing long-term declines in winter, along with American tree sparrow, blue jay, and several other species that we typically think of as "common".


• As noted last year, European starling, one of our non-native species, continues to show a long-term decline in feeder numbers. This species is also experiencing quite dramatic declines within its native range (particularly in the U.K. and Northern Europe), although reasons for these declines are currently unknown. We and other conservation organizations across North America will continue to monitor this species, to help determine what is causing this negative worldwide trend.

For the complete report please visit the Mass Audubon Focus on Feeders website.

Spring Bird Song Crash Course Day thirteen – Pine Warbler

The thrill of finding warblers returns to New England with this plane, conifer loving, aptly named bird. Similar to the Chipping sparrow the pine warbler gives a trill but most often in shorter, slower, less emphatic bursts than the chipping Sparrow. Listen too for a trailing away at the end of the Pine Warbler’s song. 

Spring Bird Song Crash Course Day twelve – Chipping sparrow

This inconspicuous sparrow gives a continued, mechanical, even, insect-like trill. It literally “chips” and “chips” and “chips”. The duration of the chipping sparrow’s song can be variable but is often quite long. Confusion occurs when this sparrow slows it’s song down to a slower, flat series of notes. 

Spring Bird Song Crash Course Day eleven – Scarlet tanager

If the Rose-breasted grosbeak took voice lessons Bill Walton asserts that the Tanager must have laryngitis. A harsher series of “cheers” and “cheerios” than the Robin the tanager does sound like a raspy Robin. 

To find tanagers forget the song entirely and learn the give away, tow-noted call that sounds like a harsh “chuck-burrr” or “chip-burrrr”. This is the secret to finding tanagers. 

Spring Bird Song Crash Course Day ten – Rose-breasted grosbeak

What Bill Walton calls the RB Grosbeak “a robin with voice lessons” the Rose-breasted grosbeak sings endlessly from a tree top promontory. With an identical structure to the American robin’s song distinguishing the grosbeak is a matter of sound quality and a lack of the robin’s distinctive “cheap-cheap-chup-chup-chup

Spring Bird Song Crash Course Day nine – Baltimore Oriole

Listen for the paired notes and rich, wet sound of the Baltimore oriole’s song. After the initially paired sounds the oriole will alternate with up-slurred phrases reminiscent of a 1950’s cat call to Marilyn Monroe. As a relative of the blackbird, oriole’s like to chatter and scold between songs.

Spring Bird Song Crash Course Day eight - American robin

Though visually identifiable to most every second grader in the country, the song of the American Robin is a slow, melancholy jazz riff that begins well before dawn and can continue late into the night. A mix of riffed on phrases like “churrily,cheer-up, cheer-o” interspersed with trills and a scolding “cheap-cheap-chup-chup-chup”.

Spring Bird Song Crash Course Day seven – Gray Catbird

Catbirds sing from deep within low thickets and sound like a madman’s endless murmuring. As a member of the Mimidae family catbirds throw a slow spun array of sounds including a baby’s gurgle, air sucked into the mouth through clenched teeth, and feline “meewww” into its repertoire.