hurricane ecology

Bob Adamo came over this morning to look for the Philadelphia Vireo. We didn't find it but there was a quite a bit of bird activity, most of it concentrated at the head of the marsh. There is a flock of at least 50-60 American Goldfinches there and they appear to be feeding mainly on the Pilewort (Erechtites hieracifolia) which has sprung up all over the place in the wake of the devastation cause by last fall's hurricane (one of the alternate names for this plant is Fireweed but I now call it Hurricane Weed). The tiny seeds of this plant are attached to feathery plumes that are similar to the bird's favorite thistles. So there is a connection between Hurricane Irene and the current prevalence of goldfinches! I can take this one step further. There were two Merlins hunting amidst the goldfinches this morning -- no doubt attracted by the flock. At one point, the Merlins literally crossed paths -- one flying up the marsh and the other down. So hurricanes breed Merlins as well!

Also seen: an intriguing Empidonax with buffy wing bars working high in the woodland canopy surrounding the upper marsh; it was either an Acadian or a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (the Empids most likely to be seen high up). The Olive-sided Flycatcher was seen for the second day in a row, hunting from high, exposed perches around the edge of the upper marsh area. Other birds seen for the second day in a row were Brown Creeper, Swamp Sparrow and Common Yellowthroat.

There's one mystery bird around: a rather large sparrowy type bird which is strikingly reddish in its plumage. Perhaps it is a Fox Sparrow but it does not appear to have the heavy reddish streaking/spotting on the upper breast that the Eastern or Taiga Fox Sparrow normally shows. I plan to search for it again and hope to get a better look.

Eric Salzman