Dear Minnesota Birders: Yesterday (5/23), while birding with my mother at the Bass Ponds in Bloomington, we saw a Black-billed Cuckoo at the bottom of the downhill entrance trail. This was a first species for me during Minnesota migration. I thought it would be the highlight of the day, but after a nice string of warblers (including Golden-winged) I heard a song I never thought I would hear in my home state: it was the two-syllabled tory-tory-tory of the Kentucky Warbler!
The bird was singing not far from the stream (near the sign that announces "Dangerous Waters," but across the stream). I crossed the stream on a fallen log and walked uphill a few paces toward the song. The habitat looked just like that where I've seen/heard this bird before in Kentucky (twice - I've also seen/heard it once during migration in Rondeau Provincial Park in Ontario) and the ventriloqual quality of the song was no different either. It was nearly impossible to get a clear aural direction from the songster as he sat in low canopy and sang his heart out. After about 15 minutes, I finally got a quick look just before he dived down into some thick undergrowth. Spectacular!!! (As an added bonus, the Black-billed Cuckoo made another appearance during this time and graced me with his song, as well!) My apologies for not posting sooner - my internet access at home was out most of yesterday. Happy birding, Matt ________________________ Matthew Bribitzer-Stull Asst. Prof. of Music Theory University of Minnesota
