Song Meter Research Detects Spectacular Species
- jsrhollis
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 17
By James Reddoch, photography by Steve Wolfe
The Song Meter Research Project has just completed its second year of remotely monitoring spring birds at key locations in western Maine. As reported previously (Song Meter Project Comes to Western Maine, A New Study Measures Bird Diversity, & The Glamours of Birdsong Research), Maine Audubon and the New England Forestry Foundation invited Mahoosuc Land Trust, Inland Woods + Trails, and the Smith Family Farm to participate in this two-year effort.
Sites on these three properties were selected to represent the variety of habitats these birds rely on for nesting. At each location, volunteers placed Automated Recording Units (ARUs), which were programmed to capture bird songs at designated times during the season.
The goal: to establish a baseline of the bird species found in our region, with a special focus on migratory species that travel—some from as far as South America—to raise their young here each spring. Data from studies like this will serve as an aide in future forestry practices.
The study has already confirmed the presence of many of the 21 priority species identified in Maine Audubon’s Forestry for Maine Birds program, and recordings from this spring will continue to build on that valuable database. While the final analysis is still months away, we thought you'd enjoy a sneak peek of some of the birds detected. Professional photographer Steve Wolfe and his wife Sally visited Maine this spring, and Steve captured some stunning images during their stay. Steve’s work is available at Philbrook Place.
Blackburnian Warbler
(Setophaga fusca)
This sparrow-sized wood warbler prefers the high canopy of mature coniferous or mixed forests, making it difficult to spot—even with the male’s fluorescent orange throat and face. It migrates here from as far away as South America. While in Maine, it feeds on moth caterpillars, including forest pests such as spruce budworm and gypsy moth.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
(Setophaga caerulescens)
Undisturbed hardwood or mixed forests with a dense understory are essential nesting habitat for this wood warbler from the Caribbean. The male’s slate-blue coloring makes it easy to identify, while the female’s olive-green plumage is more subtle. Fortunately, the small white “handkerchief” on the wing—a distinctive patch present in both sexes—is a reliable giveaway.
Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) This Central American migrant favors dense stands of young conifers. It forages at mid-tree level, searching the undersides of foliage for caterpillars and other insects. During spruce budworm outbreaks, it takes full advantage, gorging on the abundant prey. The male is easily recognized by his bright yellow throat and chest, accented with bold black streaks.
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) This small visitor arrives each spring from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It prefers early successional, scrubby areas for nesting. Its diet includes small grasshoppers, locusts, and a variety of other insects—some of which are pests on nut- and fruit-bearing trees. The male is especially striking, with a bright yellow cap and a bold chestnut streak along each side.
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) This delicate bird winters in southern Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean but flies north to our region each spring. It favors mature forests with boggy, swampy, or otherwise wet areas. Foraging in the mid to upper canopy, it feeds on insects and arthropods—and will even catch prey in midair. Nests are often tucked into clumps of hanging moss.
Ovenbird
(Seiurus aurocapilla)
This bird may not be the flashiest, but it has a reputation as one of the loudest. Fans debate whether its call sounds like “Teacher…TEACHER…TEACHER!” or “Pizza…PIZZA…PIZZA!” Either way, it’s one of the most recognizable spring and summer songs in the hardwood and mixed forests of our region.
Ovenbirds arrive in early spring from Central America and the Caribbean. These small wood warblers walk the forest floor in search of ants, insects, arthropods, caterpillars, and other invertebrates. The name "ovenbird" comes from their distinctive nest, hidden in shrubby cover on the forest floor. The domed structure resembles a Dutch oven tipped on its side.
Source: Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology