On Tuesday we conducted our last bird survey at MBP for the summer. Although we did not hear any bob-white quails this time, we heard and saw over 25 different types of birds including Mockingbirds, Blue Jays, Eastern Meadowlarks, and American Robins.
Although the mornings start early on bird survey days (5:30!), I always enjoy watching the golden tint the rising sun splashes over the trees and grasslands. It’s also a great time to see other critters before the scorching heat forces them to hide in the shade.
Although the mornings start early on bird survey days (5:30!), I always enjoy watching the golden tint the rising sun splashes over the trees and grasslands. It’s also a great time to see other critters before the scorching heat forces them to hide in the shade.
It’s much easier to identify bird when they are out in the open and you can actually see them. However, most of the time the birds hide in the grasses, shrubs, and trees, so we must rely on their calls alone to identify them. That method of identifying birds is easier said than done. Each species has a variety of calls; each one used for a different reason. There’s mating calls, territorial calls, caution calls, etc. One species can have as many as 10 different calls. Being able to distinguish the different species calls takes a lot of patience and a trained ear. I am still trying to get the hanging of bird calls but thankfully one of the NPS rangers I work with, Alison Sloop, is practically an expert!
Alison taught me that the trick to IDing calls is to relate the sounds to other everyday sounds.
For example the most common Field sparrow’s call sounds like a bouncing ping pong. Listen here.
For example the most common Field sparrow’s call sounds like a bouncing ping pong. Listen here.
Other bird calls sound like words or phrases. For example, the Eastern towhee says, “Drink your teaaa.” Listen here.