Is Playback To Attract Birds Bad?

I visited a local nature preserve the other day It had nice habitat with a stream surrounded by thickets, steep hillsides with mature trees, and then it led down to this swamp. The thing I liked it about it most was that no one was there. It was just me and the birds.

I don't get a lot of warbler photos. They are tough to keep up with using my point and shoot. This is a Black-throated Green Warbler which are usually high up in the trees. 

I got lucky when this one came down to a puddle to take a bath. I also decided to stop trying to chase new species to add to my list and instead, visit places that appeal to me using my own instincts. I wanted to slow down and stay in one place for a while instead of rushing to get through the trail. 

One way that birders get better pictures of birds is to playback the song of a bird to attract them. Some birds respond more than others with this technique. There is controversy over doing this because it is thought that it can disrupt birds, especially during nesting season. It could move them off of their territory or agitate them causing them to waste energy on chasing down an imaginary rival. There hasn't been enough conclusive research yet to see exactly what effect it really has. Some are completely opposed to it and others are 100% for it. I believe that many birders/photographers secretly call birds but don't want to be seen by others while doing it. For years I never did it. I was opposed to it. Now, I do it occasionally and only for a minute or two before moving on.

Put Down That Phone Down And Watch Those Birds!

The Merlin bird sound identification is a great app that can identify birds by sound using your phone but like most good things it does have its downside. I now see birders walking around looking at their phone screen while birds are flying all around them! I've been guilty of it myself at times this year and have come to realize it's not a good good habit.

 It also picks up bird that you may never see or hear yourself. That drives me crazy when it happens because you know you might be missing out on some great birds! It is fairly accurate but does misidentify some birds songs too.

This morning I decided to put that phone away and just use my ears and eyes while I was out in the middle of Meshomasic forest. It turned out to be a good decision because if I wasn't paying close attention I might not have noticed the Barred Owl hunting in the woods.

I also had my hands free to snap a picture of my first American Redstart of the year. Technology is great but once in a while you just have to give it a break and get back to basics. It is a decision that comes with rewards!

New Birds Keep On Coming!

It's a crazy time of the year when all the spring migrants start pouring in. There was a little rain and clouds this morning but it didn't slow the birds down! 

The top bird is an Orchard Oriole. There's not as many of these around as there are Baltimore Orioles in our area. A lot of people pass them off as being robins if they're not paying close attention. Orioles are in the same family as blackbirds where as American Robins are in the thrush family.

This is a Yellow Warbler. They are one of the most abundant warblers in the summer. I like them because they stay closer to the ground than some of the other warbler species.

 Looking up at all those treetop warblers can give you one heckuva stiff neck! Sandpipers like this Least Sandpiper allow you to look down and stretch your neck!

My First Rose-breasted Grosbeak Of The Year!

It was still early in the spring migration when I got my big boots on and started mucking my way through the swampy zone where the Great Blue Herons gather on their grounds.

As expected, there were plenty of Red-winged Blackbirds which are nice but that wasn't really what I was hoping to find.

I wasn't looking for Song Sparrows either but if one is going to perform an avian opera in front of me I might as well listen for a few minutes. 

There in the very top of a tall tree singing his heart out was what I was looking for. They sound a little like a robin singing but faster and more melodic sounding to me. My first Rose-breasted Grosbeak of the year!