Heart's Content Scenic Area is one of the few "old growth" forests in Pennsylvania.

Instead of going deep into the old growth though, today I’ll be exploring the picnic area and nearby interpretive trails. It may seem counterintuitive, but the greatest diversity of songbirds can be heard by sticking close to edge habitat — that is, habitats that represent border between two or more habitats. In this case, the open meadow of the picnic area, and the old growth of Heart’s Content.

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S119284081

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Jason Shaw.

Learn how to support the show at https://songbirding.com/support

Support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songbirding

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

As we descend the trails of Deer Lick Run, Hermit Thrush songs give way to their Wood Thrush cousins.

Learn more about the Wood Thrush: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Thrush

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115149345

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Jason Shaw.

Learn how to support the show at https://songbirding.com/support

Support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songbirding

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

As we ascend one of the trails that follows Deer Lick Run near Sheffield, Hermit Thrushes, Dark-eyed Juncos, Ovenbirds sing their evening songs.

Learn more about the Dark-eyed Junco: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/overview

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115149345

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Jason Shaw.

Learn how to support the show at https://songbirding.com/support

Support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songbirding

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

Eastern Chipmunk, Scarlet Tanager, and Red-eyed Vireo are featured in the last half of this introductory hike to Hickory Creek.

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115878656

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Jason Shaw.

Learn how to support the show at https://songbirding.com/support

Support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songbirding

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

The Hickory Creek Wilderness Trail is a 21km trail that I won't taking in full this year, but perhaps in a future year. For now, I'm going to peek in a bit, and take a listen.

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115878656

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Jason Shaw.

Learn how to support the show at https://songbirding.com/support

Support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/songbirding

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

At the end of the very first episode of this season I mentioned we’ve be coming back to the nocturnal portion of that hike, and here we are!

This’ll be less birdsong, more talk and waiting in the quiet, I’m going to talk a bit about the Eastern Whip-poor-will. I’ll make reference to some bat sounds, but I couldn’t quite make them audible in the recording this time around. Stick around to the end for a surprise song right at the conclusion of my hike.

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115082556

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Axeltree.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

The back half of the drive along Hector Falls Forestry Road.

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115104445

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Josh Woodward.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

I’ve been driving along the forest road near Hector’s Falls to find some new habitat niches, listening for more songs and sounds. After several hours of hiking, it’s a nice break to cover ground while giving my leg muscles a rest.

More about the Black-throated Blue Warbler: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Blue_Warbler

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115104445

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Josh Woodward.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

Conclusion of the Hector Falls hike.

More about Winter Wren: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Winter_Wren/overview

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115100430

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Josh Woodward.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

I’m beginning my hike back to the main road. One might expect this means we’ll hear the same birds, but that’s not always going to be the case.

Some species move around during the day, or might vocalize less or more often, or differently, at different times of the day.

We’ve not yet heard everything this trail has to offer today.

More about Black-throated Green Warblers: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-throated_Green_Warbler/overview

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115100430

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Josh Woodward.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.

I’ve made it to Hector’s Falls - it’s not a very tall waterfall but it is very compelling to look at. The water flows off of a rectangular-shaped rock face, forming a thin silk-sheet like stream of water.

Anywhere there is flowing water, there will be insects, and where there are insects to be fed on, there will be plenty of bird species.

More about the Blue-headed Vireo: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-headed_Vireo/overview

eBird Checklist for the outing this was recorded during: https://ebird.org/checklist/S115100430

Download Merlin Bird ID today: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Credits

Songbirding: The Allegheny National Forest is a Songbirding Studios production.

Recorded, engineered, narrated and created by Rob Porter.

The Songbirding cover art (Blackburnian Warbler) is by Lauren Helton: https://tinylongwing.carbonmade.com/projects/5344062

Creative Commons music is from Josh Woodward.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-da20d0 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Songbirding: A Birding-by-ear Podcast.