Golden-Winged Warbler Project Update: Bird Survey at the Farm

Field Conservationist and Project Specialist Linnea Rowse of Audubon New York paid a visit to Better Farm last week as part of the recently formed partnership of the farm and USDA to designate acreage to Golden-Winged Warbler habitat.

Rowse and coworker Rachel visited in order to conduct a survey of Golden-winged Warblers living on premises and invited some of the folks at Better Farm to observe. So off we all tromped into the feathered edges of Better Farm's woods, to the area marked in red on the map:

To start, Linnea and Rachel recorded bird calls for three minutes. After that, the ladies played the bird sounds back  (see the speaker hanging over the "Mazes of the Mind" sign in the bottom photo).

They told us these songs would bring the birds in, and bring them in they did. Ruffed grouse, a variety of warblers (one nesting!), chickadees and many many others all came swooping through to check out the commotion. It was an unbelievable sight to see so many birds come so close to check out what they presumed to be their competition—but which, in fact, was a recording of their own songs.

We will begin work this August to mark areas for Golden-Winged Warbler Habitat once the nesting season has drawn to a close. To volunteer on this effort, email info@betterfarm.org. For more information about this program, click here.