The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMay 15, 2003 - Songs of the bird call chorale The Suffolk Times • May 15, 2003 • on s o � 1� ca c ora e �, ��,� �;�, �� E �� s �� _ ; �� + � � � @� : � � � ^ �, , �s��. � , � , ��x �� , , : < � : � � . � . r ... � s,._ 2 _ , � . � � $ � a:'� ��'>�:: f "'�e� � � � � : a� �� s � .� , � � $�� i �3 1 £ �' � ��. i'�� y� :•'y' �! ��f f'd,:�WL. ��,�'+...�'i `m''" � � �� y�"�f T� �`' , �� i; ��f��`� �a Spring always brings ��t � �''3�� g�&, migrants passing � � > f � � � through. Some are ��°� � � �� tiny flitting warblers ,:; ' t , � � "��' ; in the treetops; �` �; � ; �£,� �.�'� �" others, like the �o., ��« �" larger rose-breasted � > grosbeak, will often stop at your feeder. You can't miss this colorful songster. Its call is very similar to that of WE HAD A CALL LAST W88k frOlri our local robin. Ric,who told us about an unusual number of jellyfish they had seen ?imes/Review while boating off Orient.Probably it pnoco by was the lion's mane jellyfish that Paul Stoutenburgh "appears initiall F�GV$ in swarms, spring-summer, ON maturing in NATURE May,"according to our research. by Paul However,while Stoutenburgh we were talking on the hone ese rose- reasted gros ea s gen- tile eggs while perhaps he is out look- crally nest more to the north and west ing for another lady friend.Naughty, of us.This single male was brilliantly naughty. colored,with a large rosy-red triangle Then there's the noisy little house on its white breast.The black on its wren.This tiny little brown wren head ran down its back and mingled seems to think it owns every bird box with white feathers here and there. about the jellyfish,she asked if we on the place for it sings its heart out And,of course,being a seed eater,it were in an aviary as she could hear so by each box.He has already lured a has that large,heavy bill that is very many bird songs in the background. mate and they are just now deciding distinctive.You can't miss this bird.In We told her we weren't;those were which house they will rent for the sea fact,while we were a�vorking on this just our early-morning spring song- son.By the way,this little fellow has article,we had a call from Alex in sters she could hear in the back- the habit of filling each birdhouse Southold telling us about seeing a ground.Then I got to thinking,would- with twigs and debris just to keep any rose-breasted grosbeak eating thistle n't it be fun to review just who was other wrens from moving into the seed at his feeder. doing all that singing? neighborhood.Its big brother,the One of the things researchers have Of course,the robin was leading the Carolina wren,is another member of found out about the rose-breasted chorus.Then in the background I the noisy wren family.He's investigat- grosbeak's nesting habits is that occa- could hear the cardinal with its con- ing our garage where he set up house sionally one pair will have two broods tinuous one-syllable mating call.I keeping last year. going at the same time.Talk about would think he could change his tune In the holly tree I see and hear the cooperation.Here's one pair that doe just a little,but then it must work,for friendly catbird enjoying the leftover it real well.The male cares for the each year we have a pair nesting winter berries.Their call is a soft cat- young while the female builds a new nearby. like meowing,not too loud but very nest. Off in the orchard I could hear the distinctive.What a pleasant bird to We've heard this is true of hum- flicker calling.That's our biggest have on your property. mingbirds as well.We know of a pair woodpecker.He was investigating one Down by the pond there's a chorus that had two nests at one time in of our old bird boxes.Evidently there of red-winged blackbirds calling, Mattituck and Mary Laura document- are not that many old dead trees "Konk-la-ree,konk-la-ree."Each one ed one pair of hummingbirds that around any more for him to chip out a is hoping to stake out its own territo- actually brought off three nests in suc nesting cavity.And even if he did ry and lure a mate with the display of cession in her back yard in Riverhead manage to carve out a cavity,he its brilliant red epaulets.They build a We have a little suet left out for the would have to defend it from the nest of reeds and grasses pulled birds along with sunflower seeds just aggressive starlings that often drive together to form a cup nest that to keep everyone happy.Our thistle out the flickers and take over their blends in with the general surround- feeder still brings in those yellow homestead. ��5• gems so close that you can almost Way off in the background I could �en there are the regulars:the tit- touch them.The goldfinches have a hear what a lot of people think are mouse with its somewhat repetitive very soft whispering song as they bob owl calls,a soft c000-coo-coo,but we call and the chickadees,with their off toward the pasture after their know owls don't call during the day- "chick-a-dee-dee-dee,"that haven't morning snack. time.It was the mourning dove I was decided on which box or cavity to The big red-bellied woodpecker ha hearing.It's surely not the one that nest in this year.If the chickadee a distinct rattling call.It enjoys the has already built its nest in our arbor, can't find a nest,this little mite of a suet along with the downy and larger but then again it might be,seeing the bird will find a soft,pulpy,dead tree hairy woodpeckers.And then there's male has satisfied his immediate and actually peck out a cavity nest. tlie saucy mockingbird that attempts desire to have his mate sittin on fer- It's surprising how small a nest they to mimic every bird song he hears on need to raise a family. the place.His repertoire is limited We had a real treat the other day of only by the number of songsters he's having a rose-breasted grosbeak sing heard lately.So dedicated to his mim- its heart out in the top of a blossom- icking is he that he often sings late ing cherry tree.It seems to be trying into the night.All these songs and to outdo the robin's song,which it chirps and calls make up the melody sounds very much like.Our book says of spring.Even the hoarse call of the the call of the grosbeak sounds like a crow is part of the chorus. robin that has had good singing Now is the time to get out and lessons.This is a beautiful bird and I enjoy what we all have been waiting only wish it nested here more fre- for.Remember,this magical time quently.I've found it nesting only won't last forever.So take advantage once and that was in North Sea,over of the season and look and listen,for on the south side.IYs just not a com- your world af birds is all around you. mon bird here.