Join the Chenango Bird Club walk, Wednesday, July 8
The Black-throated Blue Warbler may be one of the bird species identified during the Chenango County Bird walk at 6 p.m., July 8, at the property of Carole and Mark Hansen, located at 1478 Vrolyk Road in Eaton, NY. All bird enthusiasts are welcome to join. (Photo by Mike Dewispelaere)
EATON - The Chenango Bird Club invites bird enthusiasts; beginners or experienced, to join the bird walk at 6 p.m., July 8, at the property of Carole and Mark Hansen, located at 1478 Vrolyk Road in Eaton.
“New club members are always welcome to attend,” said Chenango Bird Club Communications Chair Dan Pfeifer. “There will be a short business meeting, followed by the walk.”
Participants will meet at the Hansen property off New York Route 26, about four miles north of Georgetown and about one mile from the NY 26 turn off, on the left side of Vrolyk Road.
Pfeifer said to look for the “Off the Beet’n Path Farm” sign and park on the right-side of the driveway.
“Mid-July is a great time to spot juvenile birds and late nesting species,” he said.
Pfeifer noted the Hansens will guide the group on a few of their property trails. Their 51 acres is a mix of habitat including shrub land, woodland, wetland, and grassland which should present a variety of bird species.
The Black-throated Blue Warbler may be one of the species identified during the walk as they can be found in shrubbery and tracts of hardwood.
According to allaboutbirds.org., they are common and have recovered from population decline in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries from widespread clearcutting. Their global breeding population is 2.4 million, an increase of 163 percent between 1970 and 2014.
Both sexes are between 4.3 to 5.1 inches in length, and compared to other warblers they are fairly larger and plump.
They have sharp pointed bills and a small white square on the wing, which is sometimes called their “Pocket handkerchief”.
The male Black-throated Blue Warblers have a blue head and back with a black face, throat and sides. They typically sing to defend their breeding territory and chase away rival males.
Females are plain grayish-olive yet some have blue tinting on their wings and tails.
“Be sure to bring binoculars, hiking shoes, bug repellent, and a water bottle,” Pfeifer added, “also a raincoat if sprinkles are in the forecast, but if steady rain is forecasted, we will cancel the walk.”
Additional bird information can be found at allaboutbirds.org.
Questions regarding the Chenango County Bird Club can be emailed to Club President Loretta Brady at lorettajbrady@gmail.com
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