Episode 74: Prothonotary Warbler in the Fire Pink Hills

Recorded on April 20, 2025, at Belmont, this is the sound of the dawn song in the artesian hills where fire pink wildflowers are at peak bloom. The spring waters spill into the marshy meadow and wooded swamp below, where the Prothonotary Warbler has returned to its breeding grounds and is busy establishing territory and searching for a prime nest site. Joining the morning chorus at mid-migration warbler season are the Tennessee Warbler, Hooded Warbler & Swainson's Wabler, along with the Indigo Bunting, Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-breasted Chat, Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed & Red-eyed Vireos while the fluting song of a Wood Thrush rings out from the understory. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Red-bellied & Pileated Woodpeckers with their signature calls and drumming are joined by calls from the Blue Jay, Acadian Flycatcher, Northern Parula, Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Northern Cardinal and Canada Goose. From the swamp’s edge, the glunk of a Green Frog and the sharp clicking call of Southern Cricket Frogs add texture—alongside the chattering of an Eastern Gray Squirrel echoing from the trees. Sounds Southern Extended listeners will also hear a lively hoot-off between a pair of Barred Owls as night give way to day,