Birds of a feather walk together
Librarian Marcia Hickey explores Douglas S. Westgate to look and listen for birds. Photos by: Brooke Chandler
One birder tries to find a American goldfinch.
Elise Leduc-Fleming looks to the trees to identify a birds’ nest. 
This birdwatcher searches the conservation for a warbler. 
Elise Leduc-Fleming points out a species of swallow in her guidebook. 
This blue jay sits perched atop a dead tree. 
The hikers venture into the forest to find feathered friends. 
This birds’ nest likely belonged to an American robin.
Librarian Marcia Hickey explores Douglas S. Westgate to look and listen for birds. Photos by: Brooke Chandler
One birder tries to find a American goldfinch.
Elise Leduc-Fleming looks to the trees to identify a birds’ nest.
This birdwatcher searches the conservation for a warbler.
Elise Leduc-Fleming points out a species of swallow in her guidebook.
This blue jay sits perched atop a dead tree.
The hikers venture into the forest to find feathered friends.
This birds’ nest likely belonged to an American robin.
As a group of a dozen birders walked through the Douglas S. Westgate Conservation Area in West Wareham, the Carolina Wren could be heard chirping “tea kettle,” one of its signature songs.
Many bird watchers use the strategy of matching a call to human language as it can make it easier to identify the songbird.
Despite the lack of physical bird sightings at the Wareham Land Trust Bird Walk on Monday, July 10, birds could be heard across the whole conservation area.
“We might not see many birds today, but we can hear tons of them,” said Elise Leduc-Fleming, executive director of the land trust and leader of the walk.
The nature walkers were able to spot a few birds, like a song sparrow, a blue jay and a northern rough-winged swallow.
As the bird-enthusiasts traveled through the forest, songs were heard by the downy woodpecker, the pine warbler and the American robin.
Birds sing for multiple purposes, said Leduc-Fleming, like defending territory or informing other birds of their whereabouts.
Although some of the birders were more well-versed in bird calls, others were novices looking to expand their knowledge of East Coast birds.
“We came on this today because I don’t know much about what’s in my backyard,” said Dee Jepson, a Board Advisor for the land trust. “Like, ‘What’s that noise?’ ‘Who’s making that sound?’”
Jody Gastfriend, a recently retired attendee, said she wanted to know more about local scenery.
“There is so much beautiful nature in Wareham and I want to get to know it better,” said Gastfriend.
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