Songbirding

Tonight, we take a walk after dark through a swamp full of katydids, crickets, grasshoppers, and maybe an owl... Credits Songbirding: Species in Focus is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music is from...

The Sedge Wren is a small, russet coloured energetic songbird found breeding in fields and shallow marshes in many parts of inland North America. Their song consists of several dry-sounding chirps followed by a short trill. Unlike other wren species they tend to be more shy, and without their loud song, can easily go unnoticed. This episode we will be exploring Taquanyah Conservation Area near Cay...

The Marsh Wren is a small, brownish, energetic songbird found in wetlands across a large swath of North America. Their song is a mix of harsh trills, gurgles, and buzzes. And, like most wren species, are much louder than their small size might suggest. This episode we will be exploring Taquanyah Conservation Area near Cayuga Ontario, first on two dates in 2024, then in the conclusion you’ll hear a...

In the upcoming special episodes I’m going to feature songbird species who fit three criteria: that I have plenty of recordings of them, that I have not significantly featured them before, and that they are not likely to be featured in the next season of Songbirding because they do no occur in the west, or have not shown up significantly in my western recordings as of right now. The Orchard Oriole...

We conclude with the finale hike of the season, listening to Swainson's Thrushes, and more. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music is from Josh Woo...

On the last hike of the season, we return to Deer Lick Run for an evening birding hike. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music is from Josh Woodwar...

Deep in Allegheny National Forest is the ghost town of Owl's Nest. While there were no owls to be found, there were a few songbirds to be heard, including a very cooperative Chestnut-sided Warbler. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by L...

I've joined the Pennsylvania Bird Atlas, which gives me a good reason to just explore some of the forest access roads to collect more observations. Since the roads are so quiet and without traffic, they're great for birding, and listening for bird songs. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter....

As we return to the access road, a family of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers is encountered, and some Black-throated Green Warblers and Ovenbirds are heard. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.c...

Deep in the Allegheny National Forest is a trail leading down to Logan Falls. Along the trail we'll be hearing Black-throated Green Warblers, Ovenbirds, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and more. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren He...

This will be my final day of recording for this season of Songbirding, which will be a whirlwind tour of several remote areas of Allegheny National Forest. But first, I’m hiking up Deer Lick Run one last time to retrieve my recorders, which captured this abundant dawn chorus. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and...

The Barred Owl is one of the larger owls, and has a brown mottled plumage, and big black beady eyes. They are typically found in mature forests near water, and swamps. Their hooting “Who cook’s for you” song can make these owls incredibly easy to find -- by ear at least. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and creat...

After several hours exploring, I’m ready to conclude my hike of the Minister Creek Trail. Even though noon is soon approaching, the bird’s songs are still going strong! Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylon...

The Black-and-white warbler is striking in both its pattern and behaviour. Its zebra-striped plumage combined with its nuthatch-like behaviour of climbing up tree trunks and hanging upside down off branches, makes it a unique warbler. The song of the Black-and-white Warbler is a fairly simple, consistent 2 to 3 second staccato trill that can sometimes be very quiet. Credits Songbirding: The Allegh...

The Canada Warbler is colourful, energetic little bird found in the understory of northern forests throughout Canada and the northeastern United States. It's sometimes called the "necklaced" warbler due to its black necklace pattern across its yellow chest.  The song of the Canada Warbler is loud, clear, and can vary by individual but generally always is a cheery rapid tune, sung from a low perch....

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is an iconic songbird species: the male's bright and cheery song, and equality cheery and rosy plumage makes it a highly sought-after backyard bird. The song is sometimes referred to as, "sounding like an American Robin who has taken singing lessons". Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated an...

When learning birds calls and songs, there are a few non-avian sounds that are useful to know. Sometimes mammals, such the Eastern Chipmunk sound like what you could imagine to be a bird call. It can sound like the chipping calls of a number of bird species, and sometimes it can even make a clacking call that is similar to that of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo! Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny Nation...

For the next few episodes we’ll be exploring one of my favourite birding hikes yet — the Minister Creek Trail. I came to this trail knowing nearly nothing about it, and yet seem to have found the perfect time to explore it — in early June when the rhododendrons are blooming and birdsong is in abundance. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorde...

Saturday May 10th, 2025 is World Migratory Bird Day. This annual event held every year on the second Saturday in May for the US and Canada, and second Saturday in October in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. For extra content, see Patreon https://www.patreon.com/songbirding Credits Songbirding: World Migratory Bird Day 2025 is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, enginee...

The slow hike concludes as we hear more Red-headed and Blue-headed Vireos, Ovenbirds, and more. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062 Creative Commons music is from Josh...

It's a lazy and hazy afternoon, and we're going to hike the Beaver Meadows Loop in Allegheny National Forest. Some species encountered include Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, and more. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Black...

In our concluding hike of this area, the wind picks up but so do the bird songs! Song Sparrow, House Wren, Yellow Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat are just a few species we encounter in the last leg of the journey. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian...

Now we follow an open access road into the Buzzard Swamp proper, encountering many new species, such as Common Yellowthroats, Field Sparrow, House Wren, and various flycatchers. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https:...

As we take a "lunch" break between the Songbird Sojourn Trail and the Buzzard Swamp, a Gray Catbird, Blackburnian Warbler, and various other birds sing. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade...

The songs continue along the Songbird Sojourn -- including Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and many more. Credits Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production. Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter. The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/...