BEGINNING BIRDER’S VIEW
OGEECHEE CANAL - 22 MAY 2010
When I think of how to describe my first experience with the Ogeechee Audubon Society, the word “delightful” comes to mind. I am a beginner to intermediate bird watcher (fairly inexperienced with sound identification) and didn’t know what to expect. I did know we would all be folks who enjoyed the natural world, though. As I walked up to the assembled group on the grounds of the Savannah Ogeechee Museum, I was warmly greeted and introduced to everyone. I immediately felt welcomed, a good start.
We soon headed down the Tow Path Trail and the morning was sunny and full of bird song. Dot Bambach and Larry Lynch, our leaders, went back and forth between discussing bird songs and kinds of vegetation along the trail. Among the many sounds we were hearing were the explosive “pizza” of the Acadian Flycatcher and the ubiquitous buzzing trill of the Northern Parula Warbler that climbs the scale and trips over the top. We paused at the muscular Hornbeams, the swollen bases of water loving Tupelos and Bald Cypress, Red Maples and Sweet Gums. Beautiful white Swamp Lilies and bending flowered Lizard Tail plants lined the canal.
I loved it when we turned from the tow path at the Ogeechee River and made our way through the flood plain forest. We were searching for birds of the swamp like the Prothonotary Warbler, of course, but no one was fixated on “having to find THE bird”. Talk was easy and when we saw and heard the White Eyed Vireo at one of the several bridges, I was happy to have a quick, but clear observation. On the way back, we’d almost forgotten about the Prothonotary when a small group in the rear spotted the beauty perched very conspicuously near the trail. It was “Sweet, Sweet, Sweet, Sweeting” away, singing to its heart’s content. Later I heard from the museum curator that a scout group had put up Bluebird boxes in the forest near here, instead of the forest’s edge, and Prothonotarys, being cavity nesters, had moved right on in!
As the trip came to a close, Dot heard the somewhat “turkey-like or scraping wood-like” call of a Yellow Billed Cuckoo. It went in and out of view in high trees, of course, as we waited for a chance to see the bird behind that slinking, elusive behavior. Some of us just got a quick view, but no one was frustrated, no one was stressed. Isn’t that a good part of what birding is all about anyway, being patient and sometimes rewarded and sometimes not?
Yes, it was an enjoyable morning. I can’t wait to join Ogeechee Audubon Society members for another pleasant experience. I encourage any new member to join these folks. They are “delightful”.
submitted by
Miriam Litchfield
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