I visited the summit of Okemo Mt. this morning, hoping to find 
Bicknell's Thrush (BITH) and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.  I surveyed 
thoroughly up and down several ski trails, around the summit itself, 
from the top of the fire tower, and back down the work road to the 
uppermost parking lot.  I broadcast BITH calls (judiciously) throughout 
the entire area but failed to find a single bird.  I'm reasonably 
confident none were present, as BITH are rarely unresponsive at this 
stage of the breeding season.  I don't want to jump to conclusions on 
the basis of a single survey, but it seems that Okemo's BITH population 
has taken a nosedive.  We surveyed and mist-netted regularly up there in 
the late 1990s and early 2000s, typically finding 6-8 birds.  The 
habitat doesn't seem to have changed much, although one regenerating 
blowdown area has grown up beyond the point of ideal suitability.

Swainson's Thrushes were singing right up to the summit, but I don't 
think that's a new development.  I only heard 2 Blackpolls, but that was 
probably due more to my declining hearing in the high register than low 
numbers of birds...

I'd be interested if anyone else gets up to Okemo and can keep track of 
BITH, or the lack thereof.

Chris

Okemo Mt. summit area
Jun 19, 2013 5:40 AM - 8:00 AM
17 species

Mourning Dove  1
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher  2
Blue-headed Vireo  3
Red-eyed Vireo  1
Winter Wren  4
Swainson's Thrush  6
American Robin  7
Cedar Waxwing  2
Magnolia Warbler  8
Blackpoll Warbler  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  7
Canada Warbler  1
Chipping Sparrow  3
Song Sparrow  1
White-throated Sparrow  5
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)  4
Purple Finch  1

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14457654

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)