Dawn Chorus Update #13: At Point Whitehorn, the Sun Rose Early, but the Birds Were Already Singing

[Stephen Chase]

Hi Whatcom Birds,

This morning we experienced our earliest sunrise of the year. Summer solstice is still five days away - the days are still (barely) getting longer - but as of today, our sunrises are now getting later.

My goal today was to complete a bird survey at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve on behalf of Whatcom Land Trust (WLT). WLT protects and stewards vulnerable natural areas throughout the county, and several of its properties have become excellent birding destinations. Seasonal bird surveys in May, June, and September help document how these restored habitats are being used by wildlife.

I decided to begin my morning survey at Point Whitehorn by tracking the progression of the dawn chorus from a stationary position at the parking lot. Here's how the morning began:

• 4:03 AM: I arrived on site. Already on my drive in I could see some faint light in the sky, but on arrival it was still fairly dark, and not a bird could be heard. I'm not certain that I actually beat the first bird of the morning, but perhaps I did.
• 4:05 AM: My first bird of the morning was an Olive-sided Flycatcher singing "Quick, three beers." I have to admit: it sure feels a bit early for a beer!
• 4:06 AM: A Willow Flycatcher sang "Fitz-bew" twice, then went quiet for a few minutes.
• 4:08 AM: A Northern Rough-winged Swallow buzzed the parking lot in the dark, heading toward the beach where a small colony nests along the bluff.
• 4:09 AM: An American Robin, the most recognizable voice of the dawn chorus, began singing. It was an incomplete and quiet song (scientifically known as subsong, a kind of vocal warm-up), but soon enough it had progressed to its famous cheery song. At the same time, I heard distant singing White-crowned and Song Sparrows.
• 4:10 AM: A Swainson's Thrush whitted, and then began quiet singing - a great way to really hear its remarkable dual-chambered voice box! Like the robin, it quickly warmed up to full song.
• 4:11 AM: Just a few feet from the thrush, a Spotted Towhee began singing. I think it had been roused by the thrush. Within a minute, a second towhee was heard singing down the driveway.
• 4:13 AM: I heard my first of many Northern Yellow Warblers, singing oh so sweetly.
• 4:15 AM: Several robins and Swainson's Thrushes could be heard singing, and a Western Wood-Pewee began calling. A Dark-eyed Junco and a Savannah Sparrow joined in soon after.

By 4:20 the birdsong was continuous enough that the dawn chorus had definitely begun - and we hadn't even hit civil twilight yet! At this point I was ready to walk along the trail to the beach. First light officially began at 4:25, and by 4:30 the dawn chorus had risen to a crescendo - the overwhelming experience of singing birds everywhere! But even in the chaos, there's still progression. At 4:38 I recorded my first singing Black-headed Grosbeak, and at 4:43 my first Western Warbling Vireo - two traditional late joiners to the dawn chorus party. Last of all (but ubiquitous on my walk back later in the morning) was a Bewick's Wren, first heard singing at 5:03 AM, just five minutes before sunrise and well after the dawn chorus had subsided. And at 5:08 AM, our planet's elliptical orbit, tilted axis, and varying orbital speed combined to give us our earliest sunrise of the year!

After the sun rose, I completed my survey. I planted myself on the beach for a seawatch of the offshore waters, then meandered back down the trail, circled the parking lot, and walked along the meadow, counting every bird and enjoying some exciting observations, including two adult Pileated Woodpeckers with three raucous nearly full-size fledglings! My completed survey provides a snapshot of how valuable Point Whitehorn is to bird habitat, and how much we (birds and humans!) benefit from the work of organizations like Whatcom Land Trust.

Back in Everson, needing "Quick, three...cups of coffee...",

Stephen Chase

[Philip Hotlen]

I found that interesting about the dual-chambered voice box of the Swainson's Thrush. Its counterpart in Europe (Germany in my case) seems to be the Song Thrush (Singdrossel). I still remember a remarkable serenade I experienced near dawn one time when I was out birding. It sounded simply glorious to me.

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