Six weeks ago, I wanted to check out one of my favorite songbird areas to add some new birds to my 2026 Carbon County list. It was a decent day, weather wise and bird wise. I heard or saw 73 species of birds.

I was disappointed that I only added one new bird, a barred owl. My drive from the northern Lehigh Valley took me to Towamensing and Penn Forest townships. Most of this area is forested, with Wild Creek and a number of small feeder streams coursing through that habitat.

This area generally offers migrating warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and a rather wide assortment of smaller songbirds. When you “bird” in June through September actually seeing the birds becomes much more difficult because all the deciduous trees are completely “leafed out.”

In the middle of May, when songbird migration is at its peak, most of the oak tree’s leaves are only partially formed and finding small, very active birds is a bit easier. It makes photographing them easier too.

It was time for me to get “out there” and I was still hoping to get a few pictures of some black-throated blue warblers. So, I drove north to prime habitat. July 26 is a bit late in the season to hear many singing, but at the least I’ll have a nice walk in nature.

As expected, the “woods” were much quieter. Most bird’s nesting is complete by now and the males, whose hormones were at their highest on their breeding grounds, are now quite diminished. I sure you remember that all the singing a male bird does, is not for our listening enjoyment, but it is singing to warn others that this is HIS territory. During this time, the females have built a nest, laid their eggs, or already feeding the nestlings.

My morning total of birds today was 52 species. The most dominant singer was the red-eyed vireo with its monotonous song.

Catbirds and towhees were still singing, but it almost seemed like they were going through the motions. They didn’t seem to have that same gusto as a month and a half ago.

Like my June birding outing, the thrush species were noticeably absent. Veerys, which I regularly have found in this same area for many years, have become rarer.

The habitat in Penn Forest Township has not really changed, there has been no logging or fires, so habitat loss or changes can’t be to blame.

Their “cousin,” the wood thrush, likes similar habitats and they too were not found this morning. I also saw no Baltimore Orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, or flycatcher species.

he lack of orioles was no surprise since they have one nesting and leave on their migration very early in the summer. Along with the ever-singing red-eyed vireos, I did see and hear yellow throated vireos and blue headed vireos.

I keep sounding the “alarm” over the dwindling number of songbirds and I keep hoping it is just an anomaly, but I’m sure the loss of wintering areas in the tropics is taking its toll.

You can still get out there to see tanagers, some warblers, some vireos, and catbirds for a while yet, but don’t expect to hear many singing birds. Look carefully for them in the thick foliage before they too head south in mid to late August. I’m looking forward to some early September mornings when the night migrating songbirds drop into the forests to feed and recharge for the next night’s flight. If I miss them …. well, there is always May of 2027 to catch them again, God willing.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Blackpoll warblers, nesters to our north, will migrate to ____ when their breeding season ends.

A. Argentina B. Central America C. Florida D. the Caribbean islands

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: The raven, and fish and common crows, can all be found in our region. Ravens are increasing in numbers and expanding their range. Fish crows, which I hadn’t found here 30 years ago, are expanding north and west from the normal coastal range.

Email Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com