2023 Beidler Forest - Birding By Ear / Prothonotary Warbler Nesting

Prothonotary Warbler with leg bands

The Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary welcomed the Lowcountry Master Naturalists on May 5 for a Birding By Ear class with Director Matt Johnson. After a one-hour indoor classroom session to listen to bird calls that we might hear, we then walked the Beidler boardwalk and put our auditory skills to the test. The five species that Johnson taught us to listen for are Naorthern Parula, Yellow-throated warbler, Prothonotary warbler, Red-eyed Vireo and Blue-grey gnatcatcher - and we heard them ALL!! Backyard birds that most folks can learn to identify via sounds are Tufted titmouse, Carolina wren, Northern cardinal and Carolina chickadee. 

Lowcountry Master Naturalist group
with Trip Leader Matt Johnson

While we were on the boardwalk I noticed several groups of photographers, since it is the peak of the prothonotary warbler nesting season. After class, I was able to go back on the boardwalk in hopes of making a few prothonotary warbler photos of my own, and was fortunate to find a few birds actively hunting insects and coming and going from a nest box near the Meeting Tree benches. More Birding By Ear came into practice as I heard Barred Owls calling nearby, but never saw them. Who Cooks For You is the Mnemonic that birders utilize to remember their call and cadence. Can You Hear Me Now?!

To view past blog entries from Audubon / Beidler Forest click on 2021 Flora and Fauna - 2021 Name That Snake - 2017 Audubon Insectarium - 2016 Prescribed Fire -  2015 Boardwalk Bonanza - 2014 SAMBI Award - 2013 Audubon Aquarium - 2012 Audubon's Aviary Book- 2011 Audubon Magazine - 2009 Wildlands Philanthropy Book 

To view past blog entries from Audubon Silver Bluff click on 2022 Spring Birding 

Iconic cypress knees and Pro. Warbler

A male Baltimore Oriole we sighted 5/5/23.
Johnson remarked it was the FIRST documented 
sighting of one in Beidler Forest!!

To view past Birding Field Trips for 2023 click on Harbor Island - Kiawah Island -  Webb Wildlife Center - Whooping Crane Pond - Jarvis Creek Park - Caw Caw Bio Blitz -  Botany Bay WMA - Pinckney Island NWR - ACE Basin NWR Combahee Unit