Bird Calls Radio's Bird of the Day for Monday, Aug. 8

 

The bobolink is the Bird Calls Radio Bird of the Day for Monday, Aug. 8.

One of the more handsome birds in New England, in my opinion anyway. I love the mix of black, white and yellow _ a good bird for Steeler fans _ as is the American goldfinch.

Bobolinks are birds of fields and since that habitat is disappearing from New England quickly, so are the birds. That’s too bad, too, because Bobolinks are not only attractive birds, but they have a lot of character. I remember seeing my first bobolink in a field in New Hampshire. The male popped out of the tall grass, circled low a few times and flew to a nearby tree, all the while singing its bubbly song.

Many people have asked when is a good time to mow their fields for hay, if they have bobolinks nesting there. The answer is really after the Fourth of July, if you can wait that long. By then the young should have fledged. I like getting questions like that from farmers and other property owners because it shows they care about our birdlife.

Be sure to check out Bird Calls every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. on WSTC/WNLK AM1400/1350 (in S. CT and nearby NY) or www.wstcwnlk.com from anywhere in the world (where there’s Internet access, that is.) Thanks for checking in.