Hidden in the Leaves: The Ovenbird’s Nesting Story
A sculpted dome of grass and twigs, its opening barely perceptible beneath a layer of leaves. A carefully crafted cup, tilted on its side. Too finely formed to be accidental. A burrow? Certainly a comfortable home for some denizen of the forest floor. Five small, speckled eggs nestled inside give it away: this is an Ovenbird nest! Breeding begins with territory. In late spring, male Ovenbirds claim and defend up to several acres through long, vocal standoffs with rivals. They sing loudly, chasing intruders with aggressive postures, but do not usually come into…
Life in the Leaf Litter: Meet the Ovenbird
“Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie…” Our newest bird of the month might call to mind that familiar…
A Field Guide to Spring’s Brightest Warbler
If the symphony of songs wafting through our yards or the frequency of freckled fledglings at our bird…
A Spring Production: Inside the Breeding Life of the Prothonotary Warbler
The windows overlooking my yard offer a springtime show of cinematic proportions. For weeks, I’ve been…