I am currently traveling along the coast of Maine after teaching Field Ornithology and Hands-on Bird Science at the Hog island Audubon summer camp.
Don Borror, founder of the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics, used to teach at the same camps in the 1950s and ’60s. Like me, he recorded singing birds while identifying birds for campers. Sixty years ago to this day, on July 4th 1956, Don Borror took campers on a short boat ride to Eastern Egg Rock, one of the islands in the Muscongus Bay.
Boat ride from Hog Island to Eastern Egg Rock
This island is now famous for its Atlantic Puffins that were brought back to this area by Steve Kress through Audubon Project Puffin (more about this on Friday’s post!).
Among gulls that breed on the island Don Borror discovered a little songbird, a male Savannah Sparrow, that had established a territory and was singing his heart out to attract a female.
Savannah Sparrow
Enjoy the day with listening to the song of the Savannah Sparrow with the soundscape of coastal Maine.
About the author: Angelika Nelson is curator of the Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics and instructor for Hog island Audubon camps.
I love their songs so much, and how interesting to hear one in this very different context!