Woodland Serenade

Oil on Panel - 4 x 4 inches

This is an oil painting of a Veery as seen at my home on May 26, 2020. It's a bird that I commonly hear in my neck of the woods in the spring and summer. They are generally known to be secretive birds because they inhabit dense woodlands associated with wet areas such as streams, rivers or swamps. I have seen and heard them singing from tree branches and hopping along the ground both at my home and during visits to Lake Maria and Carlos State Parks in Minnesota. Perhaps I’ve gotten lucky obtaining good photos of these birds, but I often find that just spending time outdoors, especially during spring migration, really pays off. 

Thanks to a fascinating 19-year study of Veeries’ nesting behaviors by Dr. Christopher Heckscher of Delaware State University, it's been determined that these birds can predict the severity of Atlantic hurricane seasons. In the years when Veeries called off nesting prior to May 23rd, there was a greater chance of a bad hurricane season (≥3 major hurricanes). If the Veeries began nesting after May 23rd, that signaled a milder hurricane season of ≤2 major hurricanes. It’s suspected Veeries may purposely cut their breeding season short in an effort to give themselves more flexibility during the fall migration, avoiding storms whenever possible to get to their wintering grounds in South America. 

I am appreciative of Dr. Heckscher's research and hard work, and it was interesting to read the report in its entirety. Oftentimes, so much goes into scientific discoveries, and this was no exception. 

Not only are Veeries one of the most beautifully-sounding birds on the planet, they can predict hurricane seasons, too. 

Stay wild, my friends. And keep learning.

Singing Veery. Lake Maria State Park, Minnesota,
May 29, 2023.




References

Heckscher, C.M. A Nearctic-Neotropical Migratory Songbird’s Nesting Phenology and Clutch Size are Predictors of Accumulated Cyclone Energy. Sci Rep 8, 9899 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-28302-3  


Location: Duluth, MN 55811, USA

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