>From my experience, the dippers tend to sing (and sing very nicely) a little
later in the winter. I may have heard a couple in mid January, but more in
February. This time of year the call note (a fairly harsh and rapidly
repeated 'chipping' noise) is much more common. However, these notes are
most often given during dipper interactions / arguments, etc. A lone dipper
in early winter can be a very quiet bird indeed. The MN dipper might be
encouraged to give its call note if it were scared or alarmed, but I
wouldn't condone scaring the little fellow/gal just to hear it.
Mark Phinney
Dawson Creek, BC
(-29 here tonight)
on 11/21/03 3:03 PM, Barb Beck at wrote:
I stand corrected. Looks like I have just been very very unlucky hearing
these guys. Actually I have not run into them near Edmonton - usually have
to go to the mountains. They do indeed sing in Alberta in the winter.
Several people here set me straight. (I put the question out on the
albertabird list last night) Dave Ealey who researched the birds as part of
his masters thesis reported back that they do occasionally sing but that it
is more subdued and at times difficult to hear because they are in holes in
the ice. I cannot figure out why ANY tiny bird who lives in the water would
be singing during our winters.
Good luck Rich. Hope you let us hear the song you record of the first MN
winter dipper. I wonder if these winter songs are substantially different
from the versions sung in warmer weather.
Barb Beck
Edmonton
-----Original Message-----
From: Wild Sanctuary
Sent: November 21, 2003 9:56 AM
To:
Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] Critique time for new web site
Dippers are all over the vocal spectrum in winter. John Muir wrote
about hearing them in the Sierras. We've heard them just about
everywhere they live.
Bernie
>
>
>Do you agree with my assumption that they are vocal on stream in the
>winter? Or am I once again going against the current?
>
--
Wild Sanctuary, Inc.
P. O. Box 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707-996-6677 tel
707-996-0280 fax
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
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