Many different species of birds can be seen along Hummock Loop during the Fall (August through November). Here are a few birds that are frequently identified.
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata, loves Bayberry bushes and juniper trees in the late Fall and Winter. It eats a lot of insects. Its song is a clear warble, sidl sidl sidl seedl seedl seedl when perched and a more commonly heard chwit svit when flying. It is 5.5″ in length, a wing span of 9.25″ and weighs 0.43 oz.
Dark-eyed Junco, Slate-colored Variant, Junco hyemalis, can be seen year-round, though more common in late Fall and Winter. Juncos eat insect, including beetles, caterpillars, ants, wasps and flies. Their call is a very high smacking stip and has very warbling phrases in Spring. Their flight call is a sharp, buzzy tzeet. It is 6.25″ in length, with a 9.25″ wing span and weighs 0.67 oz.
Northern Cardinal, male, Cardinalis cardinalis, is very abundant on CBEC property. Its song is a series of high clear, sharp chew chew chew chew or pichew pichew tiw tiw tiw tiw. Its song can also sound like purty purty party or what-cheer what-cheer what cheer. It loves to eat seeds, fruits, insects and insect larvae. It is 8.75″ in length, a wing span of 12″ and weighs 1.6 oz.
Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus, is seen coursing low over marshes and grasslands. Their voice is a piercing whistle eeeya or sseeeew. They eat small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. It is 18″ in length, a wing span of 43″ and weighs 15 oz.