Words On Birds 05-15-26

 

     The songbird migration is nearing its peak in the middle of May. The colorful warblers are certainly the highlight. Most are found moving through the trees and shrubs, feeding as they go to continue their journey further north. Some may be singing, but many are silent in their chore of building up energy for the next leg of their journey.

 

     Some warblers are summer residents here in Essex County. Many yellow, blue-winged and chestnut-sided warblers, along with redstarts and common yellowthroats will be singing to claim their breeding territory, attract a mate, and eventually nest.

 

     One of those warblers that reside here in the summer is the non-warbler-like ovenbird. This bird of the woodlands spends much of its time walking along the floor of the forest, foraging for food. Their oven-shaped nest with its opening on the side (for whence the ovenbird was named) is built on the ground. 

 

     Margo and I had close looks at an ovenbird about a week ago along Pike’s Bridge Road, Greenbelt property in West Newbury. They do nest there. We encountered several more migrating this week on Plum Island and heard many more as they exclaim their “teacher, teacher, teacher” song as the walk among the leaves on the ground. It has a big song for such a small bird. 

 

     It reminds me of the late Doug Chickering’s story of an encounter with an ovenbird on Plum Island more than 10 years ago:

 

     “Lois and I were driving slowly north from the Hellcat area on Plum Island. We were going through our usual mid-May routine; looking for activity in the trees and the bushes along the roadside. The previous days had been very active and today was a little quieter; but there were warblers and others about.

 

     “We were just starting into the S curves when I caught a quick movement at the ocean side of the road. A very small bird had darted to the edge of the pavement; paused to take a nip of grit and then darted back into the thickets. Small and quick, it seemed to be a Warbler but it could have been something else. I stopped the car and caught sight of the bird in the leaf litter.

 

     “Ovenbird,” I said to Lois. Right down there, real close. So close I had trouble focusing it in with my ancient Zeiss 10x40s. She got right on it; her first good look at an Ovenbird this spring. I had seen one in the S curves a couple of weeks ago and two in the Grove at Salisbury the previous Friday, but this one was the best so far; and it was a thrill.

 

     “Of course it’s not like Ovenbird is a rarity; or even uncommon for that matter. Drive down a woodland street in Essex County and you can hear them calling from deep in the woods. A tiny phantom with a loud ringing call. I often wonder what my non-birder neighbors think what is making that clear Teacher!Teacher!Teacher! noise. 

 

     “From out of the deep forest the Pewee and Veery and Ovenbird seem to be magical spirits with strange and exotic calls. Lois and I always listen carefully for the first song of the Ovenbird every spring. And we always try to see one as well. This is decidedly more difficult. But this one; right at the side of the road was most cooperative and quite enchanting. 

 

     “It made its way carefully and deliberately across the dead oak leaves and picked its way past twigs with a light step; occasionally stopping to snap up an invisible bug or to look around alert to both food and danger. It was striking in a miniature way. The big innocent eye looking all the larger by the bright eye-ring and the sharp streaking over the breast a nice subtle contrast to the plain back and the orange stripe over the crown. Lois and I quietly took in the subtle scene, grateful for our luck.

 

     “It seems that a good look at an Ovenbird occurs every year. Sometimes more than once. I was once privileged to observe an Ovenbird give me a very convincing broken-wing display which is bright in my memory even today. Just another of those special moments that congregate throughout the month of May.”

 

     If you hear their ringing call on Plum Island or from a woodland street as Doug suggested, stop on the road or path and watch the forest floor for this handsome warbler to be strutting among the sticks and leaves. It is a rewarding sight indeed!