birding by ear

A Carolina Wren popped out of cover and, perched on a wire, began to sing his loud four-part song over and over and over again. He sang with such vehemence that I thought he would fall off the wire! It's a bit uncommon to see this bird operating totally in the open for so long; usually they sing from inside a leafy bush or tree branch. About half way through his recital, Mr. Wren unaccountably switched to another song -- same shape and rhythm but in a different melodic form. After another long session with Tune #2, he flew into a nearby tree, finished the rondelay and then flew off to resume somewhere else.

Some of the song birds around here have stopped singing, notably the Baltimore Oriole and Yellow Warbler. As I'm doing a Birding by Ear walk for SOFO on Sunday (yes, July 3rd), I can only hope that the birds in Vineyard Field back of the SOFO Museum will be vocal. We'll see.

That walk takes place at 8am on Sunday. SOFO is on the Bridgehampton/Sag Harbor Turnpike just north of the LIRR tracks. If by any chance, you plan to come, I would give SOFO a call at 631 537-9735.

Eric Salzman