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Subject:

Sugarloaf Mountain as a birding spot

From:

Tim Boucher

Reply-To:

Tim Boucher

Date:

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 12:14:42 -0400

With very limited birding time (two jobs and all the other time demands that
everyone faces) we maximize the odds of seeing lots of birds by choosing the
birdiest spots (or spots that we HOPE are the birdiest), and particularly
those with a combination of habitats. OK, we admit it - we cheat by going to
places that we know are reliable for X, Y, or Z. 

Sugarloaf just wouldn't make the cut (I have birded it in spring and fall
migration, though admittedly just once of each). 

I looked up that study of Worm-eating Warblers. If it is the one Jerry
referred to, it was published in 1987 and the study period was 1983-1987.
These are definitely near-ground-nesting birds that require fairly dense
understory. I don't know when the deer population exploded around here - I
do know that it has occurred since I first moved here in 1983, so at that
time, there was still probably decent understory on Sugarloaf. Now, there is
none. So I'd be very surprised if WEWA still does well at this site in terms
of breeding birds. Migrating through, sure. 

Guess I'll have to go up there in a few weeks and check it out.

See Greenberg, R. 1987. Seasonal foraging specialization in the Worm-eating
Warbler. Condor 89: 158-168.