On this Summer Solstice, a group of twelve bird enthusiasts meet at the Transfer Station for the annual PeaksFest Bird Walk. Sam leads them on a perfect morning– slight breeze, clear blue skies, and active birds.
We introduce ourselves: Lisa and Tim (Massachusetts) are visiting Peaks Island – starting off their first day on this bird walk. KT is visiting Caitlin. Allyson, Bob, Bobby, Caitlin, Caron, Michelle, Paula, Tammy, and Valerie enjoy Peaks Island on a regular basis.
Sam suggests that one approach to bird identification is to learn their calls and songs. Following the traditional method of listening to bird songs, he suggests giving bird notes words we recognize; for example, the Yellow Warbler’s song sounds to our ears like - “Sweet-sweet, I am so Sweet”. One of the Great Crested Flycatcher’s calls sounds like a human “flapping our lips” while another note is an ‘upward wheep’! Sam encourages us to ‘cement’ the song in our heads – remembering or trying to recall something about the song that you can relate to.
Sam also introduces a more contemporary way to identify birds and their songs using the phone App: ‘Merlin’ from Cornell Lab of Ornithology acoustics laboratory. ‘Merlin’ hears and records the bird songs in real time, using a sonagram. It then identifies the bird species for you. Amazing technology. This method is helpful in differentiating species when many birds are singing at the same time. And it identifies those birds we cannot see hiding in their secret habitats. It is very helpful for learning the many complex bird songs, often made by a single species.
The Yellow Warbler, Song Sparrow, Gray Catbird, and Great-crested Flycatcher are the most visible and audible bird species on this walk. Everyone gets good ‘looks’ at these bird species as we walk from the Transfer Station, through the ABC Trail, to the marshes on the corner of Brackett and Reservoir Roads. Caitlin and Michelle note that the Great-crested Flycatcher was big compared to other flycatchers. Sam confirmed it is among the largest flycatchers with beautiful yellow, chestnut brown, and gray plumage. The Song Sparrow shows itself frequently on our walk. Its brown and white plumage is not particularly striking, but its song is so very pretty. The Gray Catbird's melodious song, frequently mimicking other species, is equally beautiful. And, yes, its gray plumage is striking with chestnut brown under-tail feathers.
A family of American Crows are seen and heard – the fledglings making their unusual begging calls with their parents in pursuit. ‘Merlin’ also picks up the call of a Fish Crow which is rare on the island. The American crow fledglings and adult Fish Crows both have a more 'nasal' call. Valerie has picked up this call on the App on previous days. Are there Fish Crows on the island or has ‘Merlin’ misidentified the fledgling American Crow call? 'Merlin' is not always perfect, but pretty close to being so!
One of the birders ‘spots’ an elegant, Black-crowned Night Heron in the marsh – hiding in the cattails and fallen trees. There is so much excitement that the ‘spotter’ was not recognized but we are all grateful for finding this bird. This heron breeds on nearby Ram Island and visits Peaks Island in search of a tasty meal here. This heron species is is on Maine’s list of Endangered Species.
A walk to the top of Battery Steele reveals two soaring hawks – one was a Cooper’s Hawk being harassed by a Red-winged Blackbird; the hawk was not deterred but continued to soar with the sunlight highlighting its flight feathers. The second hawk appears to be a Buteo-type hawk (Broad Wing or Red-shouldered Hawk) with more rounded wings.
After 2.5 hours of birding pleasure, small groups ‘peeled-off’ leaving Valerie, Sam and Allyson to explore Brackett Pond where a Great-blue Heron was feeding. They also heard the beautiful song of the Veery, a type of thrush – eerie but elegant notes.
What a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday morning - looking and listening to birds on Peaks Island with enthusiastic bird lovers. Thank you all for joining us.
By: Patty Wainright
Reviewed by: Sam Wainright
PeaksFest Bird Walk organized by Faith.
Acquiring, preserving, and stewarding open space for public use on Peaks Island.
