ADK Birding?

[MattC]

Anyone ever do any birdin' in the Daks? Even if only for a few minutes while hikin'? I'm not much of a birder, but it's definitely something I'm interested in, along w/ learning to ID trees, wildflowers, tracks, etc.

I do find that I almost have to switch hats between hiking and birding to really focus on one or the other. It's one thing to watch the turkey vultures when I'm up in the Shawangunks, or to notice a downy woodpecker while 'whacking through the Catskills, but it's another entirely to just sit still or slowly move along while watching for avian life. Thus, most of my birding has actually been done out my bedroom window or on the rail trail near my house.

I was definitely not in a birding frame of mind last weekend in the ADKs-I was peakbagging. But I saw some neat little birds atop Phelps, which I've now decided were probably some form of Dark Eyed Junco. Then when I stopped to rest a little south of Marcy Dam, I saw a Hairy Woodpecker, and heard many other species I couldn't recognize. When I got to the Dam, I caught a glimpse of some water birds on the far side (ducks? geese? loons?).

It occured to me how nice it would be to do some birding around the Marcy Dam area or other parts of the Daks. So, like I said at the beginning:
Anyone ever do any birdin' in the Daks?

Matt

[Gray Ghost]

All the time, Matt. Most of my birding is done in the midst of other activities though, such as fishing and hiking. I'm amazed at how regularly i can see a new species, or a bird that I haven't seen in ages. My best sighting, and a lot of people don't believe me but I had my dad as a witness, was of male and female painted buntings behind my house (i was lucky enough to grow up in the woods) when I was twelve or so. Their range is far south of the ADKs, but there they were, perched on a grape vine, nearly within arms reach they were so curious of us. I enjoy feeding birds at my house which borders an apple orchard, so I get a lot of activity from blackbirds, grackles, etc. Some people refuse to feed these "second class" species, but I love them all the same. In the marsh on the other side of the orchard I spied on a couple of pileated wood peckers while they were working while on a walk. Another cool bird I saw was a chatty black and white warbler just shy of the first brother enroute to Big Slide last May. The Adirondacks are a bird watcher's paradise, and many secluded ponds act as bird sanctuaries for those motivated enough to trek into them. I'm usually fishing in my Hornbeck, but I always enjoy taking it all in.

[AdkWiley]

Birding is great. I jsut look aroudn while im out in the feild doing work, hiking, or jsut driving around. It s fun to see how man species you can corectilly idetify, i too would liek to get more into birding, thena again i love watching any type of wildlife. Get a bird book, read up and see what you can see! I usually get hairy woodpecers, grackles, chickadees and one redbrusted nuthatch that will hang around my seuit feeder. Had a purple finch there there other day also which was neat. The other birds who arnt seuit fans jsut hang aorund in the cedars and nest which is always neat to watch.

[billandjudy]

We bird all the time we're out. I carry binocs and a field guide.

[Boreal Chickadee]

I'm always birding because birdinng isn't limited to a trip for only birds. But my son has a built in internal timer that gives me exactly 52 seconds on the trail for each time I stop. Sometimes I carry my good full size binoculars, sometimes I don't. Peaks, I don't. I've also got a compact pair . Each for different types of hikes or canoe trips.

the Peanut Butter eating Boreal Chickadee

[MattC]

Thanks for the responses all. I agree that you can bird watch while hiking , etc. and didn't mean to imply that I completely compartmentalize my activities (peakbagging, birding, etc.) I just meant that if I'm peakbagging I might tend to travel much faster than if I'm birding, and I probably won't have the field guide (s) w/ me. Binocs maybe, maybe not. I should probably always carry the binocs, they're small and don't weigh much. I have a Peterson First Guide to birds-the first guides are much smaller than the field guides, so sometimes I may bring that. My full-on Peterson Field Guide is actually the large print edition, which I accidentally ordered. That one is pretty bulky!

Matt

[Grey-Jay]

I started my professional free-lance bird photography pursuit via hiking, canoeing, and camping in the Adirondacks. Feel free to check out my latest on-line published article on Birds in the Adirondacks at the Photomigrations website:

http://www.photomigrations.com/articles/0603300.htm

Those hiking in the High Peaks will find that the severe climate of the summits are not ideal for wildlife and birds are limited to some interesting but hardy species. The hike up via the lower elevation forests can certainly offer more species and bird song. Hikers in this region should note that there is a study underway for Spruce Grouse observations.

[kurtteej]

I don't usually think of the Dax for birding. I live on Long Island and head to either Blackwater Wildlife Refuge or down to Cape May during migration season.

The loon on your photomigrations article is AMAZING!!!!

[poconoron]

I don't usually think of the Dax for birding. I live on Long Island and head to either Blackwater Wildlife Refuge or down to Cape May during migration season.

The ADKS present a different sort of challenge, I think, as compared to some other areas such as the ones you mentioned or the Shawangunk or Pocono ridges. The thick forest with infrequent "openings" in ADKs can make birds very hard to see, although if you can recognize birdsong, you're in business. The ADKs are bursting with song especially in springtime as are many other areas.

I just got back today from a 3 day trip into the southern ADKs and was treated with some great birding, some of it by sound only. From my tent all night long came the plaintive calls of white-throated sparrows (my possible all-time favorite) as well as barred owls, screech owls, Canada geese, loons, and some others I couldn't identify. Also, the croaking of ravens toward dawn. Also saw wild turkeys, some hawks (one broad-winged, others unidentified) and ravens, loons, turkey vultures, etc.

One of the better ADK areas for birding is considered to be the Moose River Plains due to it's flat, with rolling hills topography with extensive "open" areas to make viewing easier.

[MattC]

Excellent responses, thanks. ADKayaker, that's some nice stuff-I like the Evening Grosbeak w/ the dab of snow on beak.
Kutteej, I concur-I never really thought of the ADKs for birding either, until it occured to me on this last trip. Maybe just because it was my first time up there in the spring.

And PoconoRon, your point is well taken. I do realize how much it opens things up when you are able to bird by ear as well as by sight. Alas, I've been pretty lazy about it up until this point. If and when I get around to working on it, I should take to it I suppose, since I'm a musician, and I'm used to ear training. Up until now, the extent of my ear-birding has been basically:

1) Try to ID a bird by sight
2) Hope that it makes some sound while I'm watching it
3) Desperately try to remember the sound it made (if any) afterwards

Probably not the best methodology. I suppose I should break down and buy a birding by ear guide one of these days.

Matt

[poconoron]

1) Try to ID a bird by sight
2) Hope that it makes some sound while I'm watching it
3) Desperately try to remember the sound it made (if any) afterwards

Probably not the best methodology. I suppose I should break down and buy a birding by ear guide one of these days.

Matt

I purchased "The North American Bird Reference Book" on CD-ROM a couple years back and it helps quite a bit with it's recorded bird songs. I'm sure there are plenty of other (and better) products on the market too, and I would highly recommend getting one of them and "studying up" on birdcalls before going out.

Another birdcall I heard these past few days in the ADKs was the hermit thrush- again, one of my favorites.

[Dick]

I think I posted this before, but on our hike to Allen Mt. there is a very spacious open area (made so by man and Floyd) early on in the hike. While crossing a stream we encountered a couple with "official" shirts on, who were "professional" bird counters, working for the DEC. Apparently the state is divided into "quads" of some sort, and they were assigned to a particular area. They were amazed at all of the new varieties of birds entering into the area after it "opened up." Seemed like a good place to do some birding, in my totally novice opinion. We enjoy trying to identify them by song as well. Sometimes it seems easier than visual id, as we can't always get a good look. We do have a couple of guidebooks, which we should make better use of. In the meantime, some related sites:

http://www.math.sunysb.edu/~tony/birds/

http://zeeman.ehc.edu/envs/Hopp/song.html

http://sirismm.si.edu/keystuff/song1.htm

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/song.html

and more on a "thread" I tried to start last year, but went nowhere:

http://www.adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=3086&highlight=birds

Dick

[poconoron]

In the meantime, some related sites:

http://www.math.sunysb.edu/~tony/birds/

http://zeeman.ehc.edu/envs/Hopp/song.html

http://sirismm.si.edu/keystuff/song1.htm

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/song.html

and more on a "thread" I tried to start last year, but went nowhere:

http://www.adkforum.com/showthread.php?t=3086&highlight=birds

Dick

These look like some great sites, Dick. I will be using them to supplement my other material. Thanks.

[billandjudy]

We have found that Minnewska, Mohonk and Sam's Point Preserve were by far the best areas we have been for birding. Just an incredible # of species. As you hike along the ridges it's easy to spot birds as the perch in branches below you. Easier than looking up all the time too We always hear a variety of birds in the Catskills but sometimes they are difficult to see in the canopy.

[Boreal Chickadee]

Poconoron-the Hermit thrush's song is my all time favorite. Hearing it takes me instantly to the woods. I used to live on the Bashakill and the Hermit thrush woudl sing every evening. I walked out my door, down the road 100 feet and got on the old railroad bed to bird. It's the part about that area I miss most. Cobbled bottom trout streams are second.

Spruce goruse- I've only seen three in the Adirondacks- up by the Boreas River, down by Hawk's place just north of Wells and the third I can't quite remember.