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  Image by Ed Hughes  

Published June 1, 2019

Let’s Go Birding | Head to the Woods in Warmer Weather

By Laura Carberry


Now that spring is here, it’s time to head to the woods! Most of the winter birders spend their time along the coast or near bodies of water. Warmer weather brings back Neotropical Migrants that tend to nest and spend most of their time in the woodlands of New England. These colorful passerines are what birders crave. They are small, flit around the treetops and can be incredibly hard to find: but the chase is what keeps us coming back for more. These passerines are only in our area for 3 to 4 months, and then they are back on their way to South and Central America.  So now is the time to get out and search!

Each bird has a beautiful and distinct call and the forests come alive with their songs and colors. They are busy catching insects, setting up territories and making nests. Rhode Island has many locations to find these birds. Audubon’s Parker Woodland is a great place to find Louisiana Waterthrush, Worm-eating Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and more. The trails here can be moderate to difficult but the large Beech trees and rocky trails remind you of hiking in New Hampshire.

When walking through Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge you are sure to hear Ovenbirds, Black-throated Green Warblers, Pine Warblers and Northern Waterthrush, all of whom nest on the property. 

El and Long Pond are great spots to find Yellow-rumped Warblers and Black-white Warblers, along with American Redstarts.  This refuge is one of our more difficult hiking areas. If you are prepared to climb over boulders, you will find a forest like no other in the state.  It’s the only designated National Natural Landmark in Rhode Island.

On Audubon’s Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge look for Blue-winged Warblers, American Redstarts, Pine warblers and more. This property offers young stands of forest as well as older ones.

Remember that without the protection of forested landscapes, these beautiful birds wouldn’t be able to survive. They need healthy forest habitat to return to for nesting each year.  Audubon offers birding programs and nature hikes throughout the summer. Please visit our events calendar for times and locations. I hope to see you on the birding trail!
 

Latest News and Events

Audubon offers a dozen evening programs this summer – opportunities to seek out those mysterious noises with expert guides who not only know the winding trails by heart but can share their vast knowledge of natural history with visitors. Whether it is a family walk in search of fireflies, an evening hike under a full moon, or an excursion to observe the acrobatic skills of bats, the more you learn about what you see and hear, the more amazed you will be at the happenings in nature.

In this Issue: The Release of “The State of Our Birds, Part 2”; Responsibility Bird Monitoring; Neonicotinoid Analysis, MOTUS Tower Installation Click here to subscribe to the Audubon bird research email newsletter!

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island has been instrumental in protecting these species through direct action as well as by saving habitat that supports them. In honor of Endangered Species Day (May 19, 2023), learn more about this landmark piece of legislation!