The bird world is quieter in June with most of the migrating birds having moved through our area. A few flycatchers and cuckoos are still moving through the woods and fields and a small number of shorebirds are finding their way to the salt pannes on Plum Island.
Except for the loud willets and the killdeer, most of these shorebirds are first-year juveniles or nonbreeding migrant birds. Unfortunately, the fresh water pools on the refuge have not been lowered in time for them, so at very high tides they fly around with nowhere to settle down.
The high tides have been low enough this past week in the pannes and the highlight has been two black-necked stilts strutting around the main panne while the resident willets go about their business. The stilts are striking “movie stars” of the shorebird world, with stunning black-and-white plumage and long, pink legs. They have been attracting local birders and photographers.
Stilts are usually found in the western part of our country and in the deep south, and they rarely make an appearance in New England. This past week, I saw many cars from other New England states, as well as from New York and New Jersey, stopping to gawk at these stunning birds.
The other excitement this past week has been the number of least bitterns seen in the refuge pools. Up to three have been seen in Bill Forward and North Pool where they traditionally nest. Margo and I also saw three males in Stage Island Pool this week where they have also nested in the past. So there could potentially be three more nesting pairs this year!
Least bitterns are listed as Massachusetts Endangered Species and yet Fish and Wildlife and Mass Audubon support the refuge in the destruction of their critical habitat – the three freshwater pools on the island. Stage Island Pool is the first that is slated to go. I hope that the bitterns can breed successfully before the bulldozers arrive! Swans already have five signets following their parents around Stage Island Pool and one mother mallard has 10 babies in tow.
Piping plovers and least terns are nesting on the beaches of Plum Island, many in cordoned off areas to help try to protect the nest from predators. The first killdeer chicks have been spotted along the refuge road, dodging the speeding cars. Ospreys have taken up residence on platforms on Plum Island and in Salisbury with many birds sitting on eggs now.
At homes around the area, people are reporting successful bluebird broods, with some successes attributed to the number of mealworms that these birds are being fed! Our Carolina wrens are on their second brood. They have already brought one or two fledglings to our mealworm feeder, and they will soon be back in the mode of visiting our mealworm feeder and carrying worms to their second nest of hatchlings.
Our mealworms, suet and jelly, continue to attract many birds at our feeders. Our woodpeckers are still devouring our suet and parents are carrying chunks of suet off to feed young. We have seen juveniles at the suet – downy males with the red on their forehead and young red-bellied woodpeckers.
If you still have hummingbirds and orioles coming to your feeders, these are likely resident birds that are nesting in your area. Some birds have moved further north to New Hampshire and Maine to nest. Still, many remain to keep our feeders busy.
Local nesting orioles continue to supplement their diet with nectar and jelly, but most of the parent birds will turn to insects. Insects provide the protein necessary for the young birds’ development, so the orioles prefer to provide insects to their newly hatched offspring. They may later bring the young birds to your jelly or oranges as a supplemental source of energy. I have customers that still go through many jars of jelly and bags of oranges during the summer months. Catbirds, mockingbirds, and even robins will also feed on the grape jelly.
Though there are fewer finches at our feeders this month, the ones that are still around continue to eat well at the sunflower and finch feeders. The goldfinches are still competing for perches at the feeders as they build up their energy to prepare to nest. They nest in midsummer, usually in small trees or shrubs, but not in birdhouses. They wait a bit longer in the season to nest when there will be more natural seed around for the young once they fledge. Seeds from flowers and weeds become more plentiful toward the end of summer and in early fall.
Though some birds have had their first brood already, it is not too late to put up a birdhouse. Many of our local cavity nesters have two or sometimes three broods including bluebirds, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice and, woodpeckers. You might also catch some nesters that were either late arrivals, had trouble finding a mate, or had a first nest failure. Sharing your yard with nesting birds and their offspring can add enjoyment to your summer!
Steve Grinley is the owner of Bird Watcher’s Supply and Gift in the Port Plaza, Newburyport. Email him at Birdwsg@comcast.net. On the web: www.birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com.