The window of opportunity was still open as Roy walked the Pittsford Trails that steamy July afternoon in his priority block, Proctor 4. This was the third year of the second five-year Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas project. A couple more weeks and the breeding season would be as good as over for the year.
The sound of the brook was soothing on this unduly hot day. Roy had heard many a male Ovenbird singing in suitable habitat, but breeding confirmation had eluded him. As Roy followed the bend in the path from above and to his left there broke forth an agitated series of chatterings, as if two pebbles were being tapped in rapid succession. Roy would take his time for this was surely an opportunity to score one more breeding confirmation. The clicking persisted but it was difficult to zero in from whence it came. Finally Roy caught a glimpse of one of the perpetrators striding along a horizontal branch, calling as it went. The minutes went by and the mosquitoes had their fill but Roy remained riveted, ears and eyes straining. Eventually the agitation subsided until there was but a single bird registering its concern. It would not be long. Roy was sure there would be some telltale exposition of a nest or the call of a demanding fledgling.
All of a sudden Roy’s world was compromised as a large black lab straining at the leash with his mistress in tow noisily erupted upon the scene from behind him. Roy was sure all was lost. A single bird raised the alarm but as the intruders’ presence faded into the distance and the commotion subsided, a second bird emboldened by the intruders’ departure dropped to a lower branch straight ahead of Roy. Oblivious to Roy’s presence the Ovenbird strode boldly forward, a juicy caterpillar in its beak, a meal for some hidden nestling or fledgling! Breeding confirmed!
“Thank you, thank you,” Roy muttered in appreciation and relief as he checked off: Ovenbird, Carrying Food (CF), 07/19, Breeding Confirmed!