Singing in the Spring
Chestnut Sided Warbler
By: Pat Coate
The symphony of bird song has been truly wonderful this spring and here are a few shots of various birds in action. Some things to note about ‘singing in the spring’:
• Male birds of many species migrate first. They sing to stake out their territory and then to attract the females when they too begin to move north.
• In many species the females don’t sing.
• Birds also defend their territory against birds of the same species to reduce competition for food since both birds would hunt for food in the same manner
• It is believed that changes in sunlight/length of day trigger hormonal changes in birds that trigger ‘singing in the spring’.
More Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Oriole
By: Pat Coate
We were very excited to have a Baltimore oriole visit our hummingbird feeder this year. First yard Baltimore oriole we have had.
Birding with Maddie
(photo by Dad)
By: Pat Coate
One of the benefits of a large family is that I have lots of nieces and nephews to enjoy and, as some might say, to try to brainwash. Of my 13 nieces and nephews, Maddie has shown the greatest interest in birding (and other critters) and is great fun to bird with. She is very adept at spotting birds and continues to impress her parents by identifying birds they see in their backyard and on various excursions. I recently got to spend a morning birding with Maddie and my father at White Clay Creek State Park in Delaware.
Here is the trip report from my favorite young birder:
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Oriole & Fans
By: Pat Coate
My husband and sons grew up fans of the Baltimore Orioles. Over the years we’ve enjoyed games at both Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards. So it was a special pleasure to spend some time observing the team’s namesake at a nesting site near Jamestown, NY (Audubon location).
