BIRDS GET RESTLESS WHEN AUGUST ARRIVES 

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

My dog saw her first white-throated sparrow early one morning recently. The bird flew across the road in front of her, then settled in a grove of grey dogwoods along the roadside fence. As the bird poured out a summer rendition of its high whistled song, my dog in typical Sheltie/Terrier fashion, cocked her head from side to side as though trying to compute this strange, new noise. Her first bird sighting. I am so proud.

At least two white-throated sparrows have been singing in the adjacent fields all summer, but this is the first time one has ventured so close to us. But other birds have disappeared. I no longer hear the bobolinks as I once did, for they are quiet now, and preparing for their journey south, itching to leave by the middle of the month. Others, like the tree swallows have been increasing, and they are starting to line up on utility wires along highways and roadsides The signs cannot be ignored. Birds are getting fidgety, as the fall migration season inches ever so much closer. Since mid-July, some early species of shorebirds have been appearing along the beaches of Presqu'ile, and their migration will continue well into October.

It's a strange world out there. Others, like the cedar waxwings, mourning doves, and barn swallows haven't thought too much about migrating; they are still busy with household duties. There are even tree swallows on Crookston Road still nesting, which seems really late for this species that normally gets under way with nesting by early May, if not earlier. American goldfinches are just now getting down to the business of nesting. While others were tied up with domestic chores last May, June, and even into July, goldfinches were still travelling around in loose, carefree flocks. They wait for the thistledown to ripen which they use to line their nests. They must also wait for the thistle seed to ripen, as this is what they feed their young in the nest. But young stomachs cannot digest whole seeds, so the adult goldfinches digest it for them, then regurgitate the viscid mass into the gaping mouths of the youngsters. Bon appetite. Mourning doves are notorious for nesting early and nesting late. It is not unusual to come across a female mourning dove sprawled across its two eggs as late as September. All this taking place, long after some species have departed for the south.

We have to be cautious at this time of year, as there is quite a mix of birds out there - some nesting, and some migrating. Some with young in tow, others travelling solo. An abundance of females at the bird feeders may end up being juvenile males, if you have a reliable enough book to tell you so. The black-throated green warbler I heard singing last Sunday at O’Hara Mill, was likely a summer resident. A mourning warbler at Sandbanks Park the other day was likely the summer resident that we have heard through June, or was it an early fall migrant? Other warblers from nesting grounds farther north, will start to appear shortly, as they quietly pass through the county, to more prolific hunting grounds in the tropics, where insect food can be guaranteed this winter. Some, like the Tennessee warbler, have been on the move through the Quinte area since mid July, from nesting grounds in the boreal forests. They need to get under way early as they are heading to Venezuela for the winter. So, a Tennessee seen in the Belleville area on July 3rd was most definitely a migrant, as it scoured the leaves for insect larvae in the foliage, while below it in the lower branches a chestnut-sided warbler may have been nesting in the same tree.

It is often said that as one becomes older, the years seem to pass by more quickly. One could also say the same about the seasons. Was it actually 12 weeks ago when I was at Prince Edward Point for 11 days, guiding birders through the Point Traverse Woods in search of spring migrants? And here we are now, watching some species as they prepare for their journey south.

Birding involves far more than just bird identity, and being able to differentiate between one species and another. It is a very detailed study, involving many years of intense bird study, as we try to figure out why birds are where they are, and why our books aren't giving us clear answers. It is an engaging hobby because no matter how much we think we know, we are always learning new things the more involved we become, discovering information that our bird books failed to tell us. This is why birding has become North America's second most popular hobby, next to gardening.

Meanwhile, my dog now has a new species on her life list. But a grand entry it was, for I have fond memories too of the white-throated sparrow, when it was far more common than it is today, and the absolute din of them singing at Algonquin Park was deafening. But, that's another column.