SPRINGTIME

April 2010
It´s springtime! Since I have been reading the book The Sound Approach to
birding – a guide to understanding birdsounds for me, spring is the most
exciting season of the year. Studying the development of bird songs (and calls?)
is my favorite activity right now.

One of the first arrivals in the new year is the Song Trush Turdus philomelos.
Generally it´s crystallised song seems to be simple, but it´s plastic song is
longer, with less gaps between the verses and contains many imitations.

100323, Song Trush, plastic song, Papitzer Lachen, Germany

With the first Blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla my waiting for spring is over. Their fluting
songs sounds through the hole park next to my my flat. In this recording you can
hear the more quiet plastic song with lesser break-outs and longer verses then in
the crystallised song. Usually this striking break-outs distinguishes it from our
other sylvia-warblers.

Sometimes a Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros sings at my windowsill.
This is one of my favorite birdsongs around there. The second part of it´s song,
for me, is one of the most amazing sounds made by an european bird.

100402, Blackcap, plastic song, Leipzig, Germany

In 500 meter distance of my flat, Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalus caudatus breed
every year. Unfortunately either they start to breed too early in the year and the
eggs get destroyed by the returning frost in April or predators devour the clutch.

In this recording you can hear two Eurasian Jays Garrulus glandarius who
try to reach the eggs in hidden nest. The two brave “parents” try to defend it.

100404, Black Redstart, song, Leipzig, Germany

100404, Long-tailed Tit vs. Eurasian Jay, Leipzig, Germany

Spingtime is not only springtime for peaceful people. 30km away from my hometown
Leipzig, there´s a wide sandpit with a lot of rare animals, plants and micro-habitats.
This wonderful area is attractive for motocross-bikers too. Please note to the
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago getting flushed by a stupid quad-biker in the
following recording.

100404, Reed Bunting, call, Leipzig, Germany