Eine kleine nachtmusik, and eagles being eyed

Written by Jack Sanders
Friday, 07 May 2010 14:46

With warmer weather arriving, bedroom windows have been opened to the fresh night air — and, it turns out, some “nachtmusik.”

The other morning — 2:28 a.m. to be exact — there was a cardinal singing, albeit briefly, outside our window.

Was it talking in its sleep? Misled by the full moon on a clear night? Or just nuts?

In fact, a handful of species of diurnal birds may occasionally sing at night. The most likely to be heard around here is the Northern Mockingbird, which will belt out its repertoire of songs in the middle of a spring or summer’s night — usually when it’s clear and the moon is bright. Only unmated males among mockingbirds practice nocturnal singing, a fact that has led some to wonder whether it’s a desperate attempt by a frustrated guy to find a gal.

Various authorities have suggested that the mocker sings better at night than in the day. Ornithologist T. Gilbert Pearson wrote in 1909, “It is at night that the mockingbird is at his best. If he is the music-prince of the grove by day, he is the song-king of the lawn on moonlight nights.” Of course, there’s not much crooning competition at 2 in the morning.

Nocturnal song by daytime birds may have advantages, but it’s also risky. Because of the quiet that night brings, sound carries farther than in the daytime, theoretically attracting a female over a much wider territory. But the serenade can also attract the keen ears of hungry owls. Perhaps mockingbirds and others limit nocturnal singing to moonlit nights on which they can better spot an approaching owl.

Other occasional nighttime singers include the Sedge Warbler, the Black-billed Cuckoo, and the skylark.

Eyes on eagles

A week ago Tuesday, around 7 in the evening, Ted Peatt was looking out at Lake Mamanasco in Ridgefield, where his family has lived for around three-quarters of a century. Suddenly, a Bald Eagle appeared overhead, dove into the lake and came up with a fish, which it took to a shoreside tree.

Ted, who has lived on the lake all his life, had never before seen a Bald Eagle there.

“It was fantastic!” he said the next day.

It may be that Ted’s eagle is one of the nesting pair at the Titicus Reservoir, which is downstream from Mamanasco about five miles away.

Fifteen miles to the south, Debra Bender was also amazed. “I can’t believe it!” she said April 24. “I saw a Bald Eagle this morning.  We live in Cos Cob on the Mianus River.  The bird was flying low over the water’s surface, then landed in a tall pine (where he was harassed by crows). This was my first Bald Eagle sighting and I have to admit, the sight of this bird left me breathless.  Truly an awesome experience.”

Sightings

Bebe McCarthy of Ridgefield is the first reader to report the arrival of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a feeder — Friday, April 30.

“We’ve had a Redhead visiting regularly at our feeder for the past couple of years,” reports Russell Wayne of Glen Lane in Weston on April 30. “The bird visited again yesterday.” This is the third report of an uncommon Red-headed Woodpecker in Weston this spring.

Darcy Scatterday of Ridgefield has been enjoying a Pileated Woodpecker that’s been visiting her yard.

Coming up

Birding in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, field trip with expert, Saturday, May 8, meet at 6 a.m. at the Millwood A&P for carpooling, Saw Mill River Audubon, office@ sawmillriveraudubon.org, 914-666-6503.

International Migratory Bird Day, Saturday, May 8, 6:30 to 8: Early Morning Bird Walk; 8 to 9:30: Annual Birders Breakfast; 9:30 to 5: Raptor Science Conference “Monitoring and Managing Raptor Populations — Forging a Collaboration of Professional & Volunteer Conservationists,” Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, RSVP 203-869-5272 x226, Greenwich.audubon.org

Field Trip to Sandy Hook, N.J. with Bedford Audubon naturalist Tait Johansson, Saturday, May 8, carpool from Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Goldens Bridge, at 6 a.m.; return at 4, bring lunch and snack; register This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 914-232-4806.

Spring Migration at Doodletown and Iona Island, field trip, Hooded and Cerulean Warblers, etc. Saturday, May 15, 6 a.m. $5, Saw Mill River Audubon, office @ sawmillriveraudubon.org, 914-666-6503.

Spring bird walk, with author-naturalist Ed Kanze, Saturday, May 22, 7:30 a.m., free, meet at parking lot near nature center at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Route 124, Cross River, N.Y.

Annual Birdathon, count as many different bird species as possible in 24 hours while raising funds for Bedford Audubon Society’s Scholarship Fund, science and education projects — see bedfordaudubon.org, Saturday, May 22, 5 p.m. to Sunday, May 23, 5 p.m.  914-232-1999.

Copyright 2010 by Jack Sanders. Send sightings or comments to: jackfsanders [at sign] yahoo.com, or to Bird Notes, Box 1019, Ridgefield, CT 06877; or call 203-438-1183, extension BIRD (2473), and leave a message with your report, spelling your first and last names and telling us your town. If you need help identifying a bird, try your local nature center. If you find an injured bird, call wildlife rehabilitator Darlene Wimbrow of Redding, 203-438-0618, Wildlife in Crisis of Weston, 203-544-9913, or Wild Wings of Greenwich, 203-637-9822. The columnist’s website is www. sandersbooks. com.