Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uwm.edu!linac!att!cbnewsm!rsl From: rsl@cbnewsm.att.com (randolph.little) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: Earlybirds and Where is everyone? Summary: Earlybirders get the birds! Message-ID: <1991Jun27.172157.12240@cbnewsm.att.com> Date: 27 Jun 91 17:21:57 GMT References: Distribution: na Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 39 In article , randall@proteus.CAM.ORG (Randall Reid) writes: > ... it seems to me that there were MUCH fewer birds this year. > Can anyone comment on this? Early, uninterrupted mild weather this Spring dealt a double-whammy to birders by spreading the migration out over a longer period AND by bringing out foliage sooner to hide most of the migrants. Only time will tell if there are actually fewer birds this year -- I have yet to see the results of the 1991 Breeding Bird Surveys, for example. > ... Can any of you more experienced birders tell me > if one really has to be up at the crack of dawn to have a good birding > day... I personally can't even see the little critters that early morning. > even with my new B&L Elites! Last year I found that 9am seemed like an > ideal time for birding.. after that it seemed to die down quite a bit. Two suggestions for those who really want to find the birds: First, don't rely on sight alone to find birds. You can only see what is ahead of you and not obscured by vegetation or other obstacles; but you can hear in all directions at once and "through" most visual obstacles, so learn to find birds by sound. Second, get out BEFORE the crack of dawn. Not only does this improve your chances of actually being in good birding habitat at dawn, when birds are most active, it also exposes you to the unique pre-dawn vocalizations characteristic of many species such as owls, marsh birds and flycatchers. Right now in New Jersey there is a dawn chorus that begins at about 4:45EDT and diminishes significantly around 5:30EDT. Many birds have completed their first brood and are becoming more vocal as they anticipate a second brood. This will diminish in the next few weeks, particularly as birds begin summer molting. Species which are singing again now include Eastern Phoebe, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, American Robin, Wood Thrush and Gray Catbird. From 4:00EDT to about 4:45EDT the pre-dawn continuous song of the Eastern Wood-Pewee can also be heard, before it slows down at dawn for its regular daytime song. How about some reports from other earlybirders! -- Randy Randolph.Little@att.com