Early morning bird walk with John Maret at Mapleton Preserve

Palm Warbler photo by Brenda Jones

Saturday Sept. 20, 8:00 -10:30 am

Join John Maret and the Friends of Princeton Nursery Lands on Saturday, Sept. 20th at 8:00 a.m. for an early morning bird walk through the Mapleton Preserve. This walk holds the promise of early fall migrants. Meet at the D&R Canal State Park Headquarters/Mapleton Preserve, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston. The event will be held rain or shine. It is free and all are welcome. Call 609-683-0483 for more information.

BACKGROUND

D & R Canal State Park Headquarters/Mapleton Preserve – where this event will take place--contain the historical heart of Princeton Nurseries, a wholesale tree nursery that once operated a thriving business in Kingston. The Preserve and its surroundings contain both wooded and grassland habitats – the varied offerings of evergreens, hardwood trees, open fields and bountiful berries draw many interesting species of birds, including sparrows and warblers.

John Maret, an avid and experienced birder, will lead the walk. He is a an active member of the Washington Crossing Audubon Society (WCAS), and is a keen participant in their annual World Series of Birding.

Fall can be an excellent time for birding, as waves of warblers are passing through New Jersey during autumn migration. However, fall warblers can be challenging to identify, due to their small size and their preference for protective cover. In early May, they are relatively easy to spot, as they sport bright breeding colors and the males may be singing territorial songs in an attempt to attract a mate.

But in the fall, some birds have color patterns that are more subdued than they are in the spring, calls may be reduced to a single “call note” or chip, and they can easily hide in mature foliage.

The good news is that during fall migration warblers can be plentiful, as they often migrate in large flocks. Most migrate at night and rest during the day. Early morning provides the best time for fall warbler watching, as these songbirds recharge their batteries after the night flight, foraging in trees for insects.

Identification is not just matching the living bird in front of you to a picture in a book – it involves behavior, the habitat the bird is found in, the sounds it makes, and the timing of migration, as well as seasonal changes in feather color.

On the walk, the group will watching for bird behaviors that provide clues to identification. For example, the palm warbler pumps its tail up and down, and feeds close to the ground. American redstarts flutter like butterflies, and their constant motion is characteristic. Songs and call notes, or chips, are helpful means of identification too. Learning these sounds takes a good pair of ears and lots of practice – John Maret, the leader for this walk, has “educated ears” and is an excellent teacher.


DIRECTIONS:

Mapleton Preserve/D & R Canal State Park, 145 Mapleton Road, Kingston, NJ

From Route 1: Take Ridge Road exit heading towards the town of Kingston for approximately 1 mile – bear left on Ridge at the intersection of Ridge Road and Heathcote. At the stop sign, turn left onto Academy Street (Academy St. becomes Mapleton Rd). The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located ~0.2 miles on the left side of the road.

From Route 27: Turn onto Academy Street at the traffic light in Kingston (across from the Kingston Cemetery). Academy Street becomes Mapleton Road as it heads towards Route 1. The park office and Mapleton Preserve are located ~ 0.3 miles on the left side of the road.