Just A Chirp

Grosse Pointe Audubon Spring 2024

Spring Birding
From the President

Spring brings our last meeting of the “birding year”
and the beginning of our bird walks. On Monday
April 16, Don Burlett will present a program about
Ethiopia. This will be the 27th di erent program he
has presented and we will be the rst to see it.
We will also have a series of Tuesday morning bird
walks during the month of May (plus one evening
walk). Tentative dates and times are listed below. I
will send weekly emails to all members con rming
times and locations.
Please let me know if you would like to join a team.
You do not need to live in Grosse Pointe to join a
team (or to join Grosse Pointe Audubon.) E-mail me
at imokruok2@aol.com.
Each team is awarded one point for each species
seen. However, any bird that has not been seen
during one of our previous 17 challenges is awarded 5
points as a “list buster.” We will meet at Panera
Bread in the Village at 11:00 to tally our results and
exchange tales of our birding adventures.

On Saturday, May 18, we will compete for glory in
the annual Grosse Pointe Birding Challenge. This is
a friendly contest to see which team can see the
most species of birds in one morning in one of the
Grosse Pointes.
Whether you are joining us for a meeting, enjoying
one of our walks, participating in the challenge or
just enjoying birds in your yard, make sure to get
outside and enjoy the annual spectacle of spring
migration!

Spring Schedule
April 16 — Ethiopia, Don Burlett Don is the past president of Oakland Audubon. He has traveled
extensively and has presented 27 different programs. We are privileged to be the rst to see his latest
program about the birds of Ethiopoia, Social hour at 7:00 p.m., Meeting starts at 7:30 in Annex Building behind
Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church.

Spring Bird Walks

Tuesday May 7, 2024 6:30 a.m. Ghesquire Park behind Grosse Pointe Woods Municipal Building.

Tuesday May 14, 2024 6:30 a.m. Lakefront Park Grosse Pointe Woods next to Ford House

Thursday May 16, 2024 7:30 p.m. Patterson Park Grosse Pointe Park - evening walk

Tuesday May 21, 2024 7:00 a.m. Ford House (Pass needed -$5 for daily)

Tuesday May 28, 2024 7:30 a.m. Patterson Park Grosse Pointe Park

Grosse Pointe Birding Challenge Saturday May 18

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 JUST A CHIRP
Spring Warblers
By Mark O’Keefe
Spring migration brings dozens of breeding
species back to our area. But the highlight is
the brief appearance of birds that are just
passing through to their breeding grounds
farther north.
For many of us, members of the wood
warbler family are the epitome of spring
birding. These small, fast-moving, colorful
birds can be hard to see. Learning their calls
is a good way to hone in on our furtive
feathered friends.
The quality of the song is the rst thing to
listen for. Is it buzzy, mechanical, high-
pitched, ascending, descending, trilled, etc.
Also listen for a change in pitch, speed of the
song, and time between repetitions.
Here is a quick reference for some of the
Wood Warblers you are most likely to
encounter in our area.
Yellow Warbler “Sweet Sweet Sweet
Sweeter then Sweet.” Starts on an even pitch
which rises and accelerates. They are easy to
nd on the meadow loop at Lake St. Clair
Metro Park.
Pine Warbler Even-pitched musical trill.
Similar to Chipping Sparrow, but more
musical. Also similar to Dark-eyed Junco.
Look for them in April high up in evergreens.
Wilson’s Warbler This bird seem to run out
of gas as its trilled song loses volume and
speed towards the end. I remember the call
by picturing old Mr. Wilson yelling at Dennis
Menace, “HEY GET OUT Of My Garden …
oh what the heck.” It also helps to think of Mr.
Wilson as being Jewish since the Wilson’s
Warbler appears to be wearing a yarmulke.
Look for them in bushes and the lower
portion of trees.
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SPRING 2024
Nashville Warbler and Tennessee Warbler
Beginning birders sometimes confuse these two
birds since Nashville is located in Tennessee. Both
birds are common migrants in Grosse Pointe.
Visually, the Nashville has a distinctive eye ring
while the Tennessee has an eye line
The calls are somewhat similar, but the
Nashville’s call has two parts: see-it see-it see-it
tititititi. It reminds me of listening to a game of
table tennis. The rst part is the back and forth
volley at a measured pace. The second part is more
rapid and reminds me of the sound of the ball
dropping to the oor and bouncing rapidly.
The Tennessee Warbler has a three part song.
The middle part is at a faster pace and louder than
the beginning and ending phrases. The call is
frequently represented as “Ticka-Ticka-Ticka,
SWEE SWEE SWEE, Jay Jay Jay.
Visual Tip: Circle City (Nashville-eye ring)
State Line (Tennessee - eye line)
Audio tip: Nashville - two syllables, two-part
song; Tennessee - three syllables, three-part song.
Magnolia Warbler This beautiful bird has a
bright-yellow breast with dark streaks. It is the
only warbler whose tail looks like it was dipped
in ink. From the underside (which is the most
common view) the tail has a white base and a black
end. The song is variable, but usually musical,
sweet, fairly rapid and has a sing-song aspect.
Palm Warbler This yellowish warbler with a
brown cap has a trilled call that will remind you of
the Pine Warbler. The constant bobbing of the tail
is a good ID mark. The tail has the opposite
pattern of the Magnolia Warbler with a blocky
black base and square white end.
Common Yellowthroat This masked bird
loves brushy areas near water and is easy to nd all
summer long in the right habitat. Its most common
song is a sweet, clear, slow and deliberate
“Witchity-witchity witchety,”
 JUST A CHIRP
Northern Parula The distinctive call of the
Northern Parula is a buzzy ascending trill that
ends with a low at note. The nal note is the
key to differentiating this call from other trilled
songs like that of the Chipping Sparrow.
Yellow-rumped Warbler One of our more
common warblers, the Yellow-rumped is
identi ed by its namesake rump and
accompanying yellow anks. Cape May,
Magnolia, and Palm Warblers also have yellow
rumps, so don’t forget to look at the anks. The
song is a variable slow trill.
Black and White Warbler Look for this well-
named warbler as it creeps along branches and
explores tree trunks in a fashion very similar to
that of nuthatches and brown creepers.
American Redstart This orange and black
warbler will remind you of a miniature oriole. It’s
call is variable, but the exuberance and volume
are a good key to identi cation. Look for it in
brushy areas especially near water.
Chestnut-sided Warbler Another well-named
bird that tends to sing from higher perches. It’s
call is “Pleased pleased pleased to meet-CHA!”
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FALL 2023
Bay-breasted Warbler Also a well-named bird
that sings from high perches. The song is usually
represented as a repeated two-note phrase with
the rst note higher than the second. However,
the song usually ends with the rst note: “Seetsy-
seetsy-seetsy-see.” The song is similar to the
Black and White Warbler, but the last note is
distinctive.
Black-throated Blue Warbler This striking bird’s
buzzy “BEER-BEER-BEER-BEE!’ Call will help
you nd it in low scrubby areas.
Northern Waterthrush A Buffy brown bird that
walks in wet areas near water. The bobbing tail
and brownish eyebrow are good eld marks.
Ovenbird This skulker is easier to hear than to
see. As it walks along the ground in heavy cover
it calls out “Tea-CHER, tea-CHER, tea_CHER.” I
hear at least a dozen of these for every one I
see, but I know to crouch down and look carefully
when I hear its loud call. Ovenbirds have a
diagnostic orange crown with a black border.
They are brownish olive above, with a streaked
white breast and a bold white eye-ring.
JUST A CHIRP SPRING 2024

Warbler May-hem 3. All of these four warblers bob their tails, but
the only one with a blocky black tail base and
white end is:
a. Palm Warbler
b. Northern Waterthrush
c. Pine Warbler
d. Yellow Warbler

4. All of these birds are found in brushy areas,

but the only one with a black cap is:
a. Wilson’s Warbler
b. Common Yellowthroat
c. Canada Warbler
d. Palm Warbler

1. This bird is:

a. Black and White Warbler
b. Kirkland’s Warbler (available only at 5. “Witchity Witchity Witchity” Who said that?
Costco)
c. Magnolia Warbler _______________________________
d. Kirtland’s Warbler

2. Which bird’s call can be described as a Answers at the bottom of page 6.

buzzy ascending trill that falls off at the end?
a. Chipping Sparrow
b. Pine Warbler By Peter Moe
c. Palm Warbler
d. Northern Parula

About Grosse Pointe Audubon

Mark O’Keefe, president, (313) 884-7472 or imokruok2@aol.com

Peter Moe, vice president, (586) 205-1664 or petermoe11208@gmail.com
Trina Bresser Matous, treasurer, tbresser@aol.com
Anna Wuerfel, secretary, anna.wuerfel@att.net
Board of Directors: Mike Florian, Joanna Pease, Terry North, Robert Walter, Jim Szelc
Joanna Pease, representative to Seven Ponds Nature Center, strixvaria@sbcglobal.net
Edward McHale, Webmaster: FaceBook, blog

Go to www.gpaudubon.blogspot.com for an online copy of Just A Chirp, a membership

form and more.

Keep up with other Grosse Pointe birders and follow us on Facebook!

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 JUST A CHIRP SPRING 2024

Grosse Pointe Audubon

Membership Form
From our yards and city parks to the sparkling waters of Lake St. Clair, we are surrounded by nature’s wonders. Have
you ever wanted to know more about the colorful birds that come and go in your yard? Do you want to learn more
about plants, insects, and nature? Are you a bird watcher looking for other birders? From the curious feeder watcher
to the serious birder, Grosse Pointe Audubon welcomes you.

Grosse Pointe Audubon is a chapter of Michigan Audubon, our state’s oldest conservation organization.

Our Mission
Our organization serves the Grosse Pointes and the surrounding communities. We promote the awareness,
understanding, enjoyment and stewardship of the environment with an emphasis on birds and their habitats. We
accomplish our mission through our educational programs, community service projects, and eld trips.

Dues are $15 for an individual and $25 for a family

Please make checks payable to:

Grosse Pointe Audubon
1139 Harvard
Grosse Pointe, Michigan 48230

Membership Roster information:

(Please feel free to use a return address label if you have one)

____ Check here if you are renewing your membership with no changes to your contact information

Name ______________________________________________________________________________

Name(s) of additional members in your household ___________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________________________________

City, State, & Zip code _________________________________________________________________

Phone _______________________________________________________________________________

Email (needed for delivery of newsletter) ___________________________________________________

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JUST A CHIRP SPRING 2024

Parting Shots: Warblers of Eastern North America

By Kayla Fisk
This poster and other beautiful artwork available at:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FiskBirdArt

Warbler May-hem quiz answers:

1. Magnolia Warbler 2. Northern Parula 3. Palm Warbler 4. Wilson’s Warbler 5. Common

Yellowthroat
JUST A CHIRP SPRING 2024

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