Thanks, Gerald - for the info. 

Note that mountain bikes are banned on Sugarloaf only from Memorial Day to
Labor Day...and I don't think trail riders are banned at any time of year. 

I guess what is quiet is in the eye of the beholder. To me, Sugarloaf in the
spring is a veritable Grand Central Station unless you get well along on the
long trails. Anywhere near the parking lots, picnic areas, and close to the
 or on the shorter trails will find hordes of people. Easily as many as show
up at the Maintenance Yard. 

We find places like Myrtle Grove - where we're often the ONLY birders! to be
quiet. Though admittedly, not hugely birdy in terms of numbers. There are
several habitat types, but all are very small fragments, so you get one or
two of a given species. But for birding purposes, that's all you need....

Yes, if we saw/heard any significant number of understory birds, like
Kentucky Warblers up there (as breeders, not just migrating through), then
I'd also expect to find a fair number of Worm-eating Warblers. But don't
forget the effect of philopatry. Are those birds there simply because it is
where they were hatched and/or because they can't find any suitable habitat
nearby, or suitable habitat that isn't saturated? When we studied Kentucky
Warblers, we found birds nesting in unsuitable places. All the good sites
were taken, so some birds inevitably ended up in less-than-optimal sites.
Marginal sites may support presence, and even some breeding, but will rarely
support a self-sustaining population. So the species may be present for a
while, but eventually will disappear.

Ellen Paul
Tim Boucher
Chevy Chase, MD