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INSTITUTE FOR FIELD ORNITHOLOGY

2004 IFO White Mountain Birdsong Identification Workshop Report

Instructor: Mark Suomala . 28 June - 3 July 2004 . Gorham, New Hampshire

Our workshop started in Gorham on Monday, where we discovered that a Warbling Vireo had taken up residence behind our place of lodging and was easy to see and hear. After dinner, we had a one-hour meeting for introductions and to discuss the goals of the workshop. Then we had our first outing that evening along the Androscoggin River, where we listened to several Veerys singing their beautiful descending song, along with several Swamp and White-throated Sparrows.

On Tuesday morning we ventured out early to hear the buzzy song of the Scarlet Tanager and the "chink" call of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, as well as Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warbler songs. After breakfast we had a classroom session to learn how to use alpha codes to record species, how to write verbal song descriptions, and how to utilize sonagrams and mnemonics. In the afternoon, we visited the Whitefield airport where we heard Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Savannah Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Yellow Warbler, and Chestnut-sided Warbler. In the surrounding wetlands and forest edge we heard the "free-beeer" call of the Alder Flycatcher, and the staccato "chip-chupety-swee-ditchety" song of the Canada Warbler. We drove back through Jefferson Notch to hear Blackpoll Warblers, but out listening was interrupted by rain and we headed back for dinner.

We spent all of Wednesday morning exploring the forests, clear cuts, and wetland habitats in the York Pond area. We were able to hear a wide selection of forest warblers, including several Mourning Warblers, and many Nashville Warblers. The back roads here are lightly traveled and we had little background noise to contend with, which made hearing weak high-pitched songs like the Blackburnian Warbler, and Golden-crowned Kinglet much easier. At one location, we heard a slightly different song among several singing Red-eyed Vireos, and found a Philadelphia Vireo singing from its nest! We also located an Olive-sided Flycatcher calling repeatedly "quick! three beers!" Later in the afternoon we learned about Bird Monitoring Techniques, and continued reviewing birdcalls. We also discussed Point Count, BBS, MAPS, and broadcast survey techniques.

On Thursday we drove to the Israel River Valley, where we conducted exercises in teams of two where each person took turns being an observer or a recorder. We practiced this for quite awhile, developing critical listening skills, and learning a number of bird songs along the way including American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. From here we drove to the Caps Ridge Trailhead, located at 3,009 feet, and studied high-elevation spruce-fir habitat birdsong. Here we encountered Blackpoll and Yellow-rumped Warblers, as well as Swainson's Thrush, Boreal Chickadee, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We hiked a steep rocky trail to an overlook, where we were able to hear several Bicknell's Thrushes singing and calling. After the hike we birded along the road and found several Purple Finches and Winter Wrens singing, as well as the usual Red-eyed Vireos, and a few Blue-headed Vireos. In the evening we ventured out briefly to listen for Common Nighthawk, but had no luck finding this declining species.

On Friday morning we visited a large wetland where Common Loon, Northern Harrier, and Bald Eagle all nest. Here we played a broadcast tape of secretive wetland birds, and had responses from Virginia Rail, Marsh Wren, and Common Snipe. One Snipe almost landed on the tape player! We discussed the ethics of using a playback tape, and then headed over to Franconia Notch to take the tram to the top of Cannon Mountain. At over 4,000 feet we were able to once again explore high-elevation spruce-fir habitat, and listen for Blackpoll and Magnolia Warblers. We got to hear Common Ravens calling near the cliffs, and we also heard and saw a Hairy Woodpecker with a "yellow" head crown-patch, which really got us to do a double take! From here we went to a low-elevation spruce-fir forest area where we encountered Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and White-winged Crossbills calling from the forest. The late afternoon was spent reviewing the materials and discussing any problem areas.

On Saturday morning we drove down to Pinkham Notch, where we stopped at several locations to listen for birds. We practiced our observer/recorder exercises, and heard Black-throated Blue Warbler, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager, Ovenbird, Northern Parula, and many other neotropical migrant species. Then we went to see a small colony of Cliff Swallows, where we saw one building a nest and got to hear them making call notes. We had our final recorder/observer exercise along the Androscoggin River, where we heard Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, and Hermit Thrush in the surrounding forest. We headed back to the motel and checked out, marking the end of a great week of studying birdsong in the White Mountains.

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