ML616828999
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
- Playback
- Not specified
Observation details
The main objective of this visit was to determine whether the large number of non-breeding BESPs found along this route last January (6th) was indicative of a large breeding population in this area. The answer was quickly pretty clear. Spontaneously singing BESPs were spread all along the route, and were especially concentrated along about 0.4 miles of the truck trail westward from 32.991007, -116.762168. Three or four birds could be heard singing simultaneously in places. Nearly all singing birds were visually detected as well. About 6 non-singing birds were also seen in apparent association with singing birds (always as pairs). Assuming that the singing birds were on territories, there are probably about 15 or more territories along the route. Photos below show a few of the closer singing birds. The song recording below was from the bird in the second photo, who was only about 40 feet away and seemingly unconcerned by my presence. Note that while recording this bird using the Merlin app, I realized that the app failed to identify the bird, even though it had little trouble identifying the softer and more distant WCSP (background) vocalizations. I subsequently repeated this failure with at least 8 other singing BESPs that were not far off the trail. These are errors of omission, as the app did not provide any match to the songs of any BESP.
Technical information
- Recorder
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 8.45 MB