Thunder and heavy rain, soft rain and light wind, birds in the early morning, frogs in the evening, and maybe a coyote howl deep into the night are some of the sounds of spring. As cold temperatures ease into summer highs, walks through natural areas tend to be filled with many sights as well as opportunities to learn by being quiet and listening closely.
Calls and songs are used by many species for a variety of purposes. Thousands of birds are migrating through the area, especially on clear evenings, and calls help to keep birds together and establish who is the flight leader. Year-round species are re-establishing territories, using calls to warn intruders to stay away or warn family members of approaching threats. Frog species in particular are calling during evenings to find a mate, lay eggs, and begin the establishment of the next generation.
There are dozens of species active at this time of year, and as we have been taking nature walks on campus the last few days, here are some of the wildlife we are listening to (click on each picture to hear their call)…
Yellow-rumped warbler, Setophaga coronata, Mirceax, Getty Images
Red-winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, by KenCanning, Getty Images Signature
Palm warbler, Setophaga palmarum, by Irving A. Gaffney, Getty Images
Northern waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis, by Carol Hamilton, Getty Images
Northern Parula, Setophaga americana, by Neil Bowman, Getty Images
Chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, by Irving A. Gaffney, Getty Images
Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius, Mirceax, Getty Images
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, by Miguel Opacic, Getty Images
Bird songs have a structure and rhythm, and are repeated often to attract a mate, ward off rivals, or bond with a family member. Other calls give warning that danger is near, keep flocks together in flight, or create a pair bond, often between mother and chick.
Frogs and toads are mating and laying eggs in area ponds. Each species has its own distinctive call, used by the males to attract a mate, warn of potential danger, establish a territory, or to signal distress. Frog species being heard around campus at this time include the following (click on each picture to hear their call)…
American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus, by Mshake, Getty Images
Boreal chorus frog, Pseudacris maculata, by Derwyn, Getty Images
Spring peeper, Pseudacris crucifer by HuntImages, Getty Images Signature
Northern Leopard Frog, Lithobates pipiens, by Jennifer Seeman, Getty Images
Sometimes, coyote can be heard when walking in woodlands around campus late in the evening. There are a lot of different calls used by these canines to provide information to other individuals. You can listen below to a bark used to indicate a threat, a social call establishing an individual’s location, a begging call from a young one, and a howl audible over long distances to announce one’s presence. Other calls may include a woof to signal a low intensity threat, a yip to claim territory, a growl to threaten another animal, and a whine or yelp to show subservience to a more dominant individual.
Coyote, Canis latrans, barking by TakenPix, Getty Images
Coyote, Canis latrans, begging, by Keith Szafranski, Getty Images Signature
Coyote, Canis latrans, social interaction by Michel Viard, Getty Images
Coyote, Canis latrans, howling, by Keith Szafranski, Getty Images Signature
Additional wildlife sounds can be heard on campus around Lake Benedictine or in nearby forest preserves. Get out for a walk and be sure to listen throughout the day for bird species, and into the evening hours for frogs, toads, and coyotes.
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