Re: [Maine-birds] Also PIWA in Houlton

Bill,

 

If you could help to convince the Forest Product Industry in leaving a few Old Growth Pine Trees.... I suspect that the Pine Warbler would certainly live much farther North than Holton,  Northern Maine or Matagomon Lake.  I do understand your point and if we could have stopped the massive clear-cutting through the 90's perhaps the above statement would not cause such a stir. I also would suspect that where there are Pinus stroba taller than 50 feet that we would also find a happily and richly singing male Pine Warbler somewhere in Canada.  Personally, the rich trill of the PIWA coming from the top of a tall stately Pine tree is pretty easy to decipher from the staccato-y trill of the Junco.  When they are both found in the same habitat I find Juncos calling from mid-canopy and nesting low to the ground while the amazing yellow of the male Pine Warbler continues to call from the top of the tallest Pine Tree, slowly and methodically foraging among the tallest branches.  During Acadia Birding Festival our group actually had an opportunity to see one in the scope sitting quietly in illuminating sunlight which we walked away from.  Occasionally you can phish a PIWA into the lower canopy but it has to be a totally testosterone hyped male.  

 

Fortunately,   here on MDI the Forest Product Industry cannot wield it's might swords  and devastate the forest like they have in Northern Maine.  Had we been united in the past,  perhaps we could still find Pine Warblers in the 110 foot PINE and spruce Forest of northern Maine. Alas another path has been chosen  for us and Craig's Pine Warbler  may be the the most northern Pine Warbler in Maine because there are few if any Pine Trees.   The forest carved out by the Forest Product Industry probable do not mimic the traditional migratory range of the PIWA which is what I was referring to  as the traditional range of PIWA.      Perhaps in todays world we can hope for environmental changes that will benefit the Avian Community with the help of the Forest Product Industry and leaving some vertical structure.    I never said that Craig was not right to note this bird and thanked him for the sighting.  I am looking for any lists from my trips to Baxter over the years and will let you know if I find PIWA on any of them I may have.  

 

All the Best,  

 

Michael

 

From: Bill Sheehan

Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 7:32 AM

To: Maine birds

Cc: Craig Kesselheim

Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Also PIWA in Houlton

 

Hello all,

 

Craig is right that this bird is noteworthy and at the northernmost edge of the confirmed range at Houlton.  As anyone who has wandered north of Baxter knows, the Pine Tree is a rare commodity in the northern quarter of the Pine Tree State.  I have only been able to confirm breeders as far north as Matagamon Lake and Orient.

 

Craig is right too, to be out trying to get a glimpse of the bird this AM.  A visual sighting is key to confirm these birds on the northern edge of the breeding range.  I have personally found that my brain likes to convert Junco song into a Pine Warbler trill when I'm standing in Pine straw and the sent of pitch is in my nose....  Its also my impression that late-season Junco song seems a bit low key and quite different from the ringing tone of the testosterone-jacked tune they belt out as they migrate through in spring.

 

This may explain some of the breeding season Pine Warbler reports we see in eBird maps of interior northern Maine and the Maritimes.

 

 

Cheers

 

Bill

On Mon, Jun 18, 2012 at 5:50 PM, Down East Nature Tours <info@downeastnaturetours.com> wrote:

Craig

A quick perusal of the data shows PIWA well up into New Brunswick and Newfoundland  and many records in Northern Maine so the motor lodge PIWA seems to be still well in it breeding range...  Thanks for the sighting

Michael

-----Original Message----- From: Craig Kesselheim
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2012 8:52 PM
To: Maine birds
Subject: [Maine-birds] Also PIWA in Houlton

Audible of Pine Warbler near Ivys Motor Lodge this evening. I'll be out early tomorrow to confirm. Same location as last year (Rest Area pines). A bit far north.

Craig K

Sent from my iPhone

--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207
--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207

 

--
Bill Sheehan
Woodland, Aroostook Co., Maine
http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/

--
Maine birds mailing list
maine-birds@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/maine-birds
https://sites.google.com/site/birding207