Good morning,
Christian Nunes
A few hours ago, I found a territorial EASTERN MEADOWLARK on the Beech Open Space, east of Highway 36 and south of Neva Road. This is just west of Lefthand Reservoir. The McGuckin's warehouse is across the highway to the west. Although there is an open gate to the track that goes down to the picnic area off Neva, I do believe it should be locked. The picnic shelter is rented out via Boulder COUNTY Parks and Open Space (not CITY of Boulder, employer of yours truly and manager of the land itself). Maybe there will be an event there soon, or someone forgot to lock the gate after they used it this past weekend. Either way, DO NOT DRIVE IN. Park on Neva and walk. Here is a map:
So here's the thing. When I first found the bird, it was singing a beautiful Eastern song. I was in the middle of a survey, and when I finished that, I went back to find the bird again. When I got to it, it was singing a Western song. Three options came to mind. 1) I mis-heard and mis-IDed a WEME; 2) A WEME was singing from the same patch of yuccas that only minutes before an EAME had been; 3) Same bird singing two songs.
I finished my morning round of transects and went back to the bird. I got good video recordings of the calls (clearly EAME), and its two song types, a typical EAME and a typical WEME. No doubt about it singing both versions. Luckily, it's a known phenomenon that Meadowlarks to learn their song, so are thus perfectly capable of singing whichever they like. Calls are hardwired in, so since the bird utters an Eastern call, I'm good with that.
Visually, the bird is spot-on for an EAME. No sign of yellow on the sub-moustacial, very dark head markings, dark brown overall, and three white tail feathers (which doesn't actually mean much to me, I count three on WEMEs all the time).
Video of the bird calling (diagnostic for EAME): http://www.flickr.com/photos/christian_nunes/9008690162/in/photostream/
Video of the bird singing EAME song: http://www.flickr.com/photos/christian_nunes/9008744436/
Video of the bird singing a WEME song: http://www.flickr.com/photos/christian_nunes/9008714688/in/photostream/
Record photographs:
Christian Nunes
Boulder, CO
pajaroboy@hotmail.com
pajaroboy@hotmail.com
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