Tim and I do an annual camping/birding trip to Garrett County. We base ourselves at Swallow Falls and bird the campground & trails to/between the waterfalls, the road through the adjacent state forest, the TNC Cranesville Swamp, Mt. Nebo Wildlife Management Area, and miscellaneous backroads. We missed last year, so apologies if the news I am about to report is not news for some of you. The changes we observed almost certainly occurred last year.

Specifically, Mt. Nebo - to promote habitat for woodcock, they've destroyed what was the most accessible birdiest area of the WMA. There was a short road that ran from the gravel road to the open (dog training) fields. We called this tiny bit of closed canopy the magic road for the number of species it produced and the overall number of neotropical migrants. For instance, on our last visit, one tree produced six Bay-breasted Warblers. There were always Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, American Redstarts, Baltimore Orioles, Kentucky Warblers (usually fairly far in), Hooded Warblers, and much more. Well, no more. The trees on the one side of the road are entirely gone except one small patch of about 5 trees. On the left side, where it meets the main road, about half the trees are gone. 

In addition, they've killed or removed all the trees and shrubs on the right hand side (as you walk down from the parking lot) along the swamp. Surprise - far fewer birds, far fewer species. 

I'm all in favor of promoting Woodcock habitat; the species is certainly in decline in a big way in most of the country. In Maryland, the decline has not been as drastic as some places - the 2011 report from Patuxent shows a decrease of 3.48% from 1968 - 2011 (singing ground survey). I am just wondering why they had to chose this particular area and why they didn't think about other users of the property. 

Moreover, reading the USGS/NRCS Habitat Best Management Practices for American Woodcock, it is hard to imagine that most of the area is not far too wet. It isn't just moist; it is actually completely flooded. 

We walked down the main road past this area and it just isn't as birdy. 

Griping over. 

The marshy area produced three Yellow Warblers (first time we've found this species in Mt. Nebo) and scads of Chestnut-sided Warblers, a couple of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a few Cedar Waxwings. What was left of the "magic road" had Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and one female or FY male American Redstart. The dog training field was unusually quiet. Mostly Gray Catbirds. Today, the birdiest area was actually the upper road near the car parking area (also logged in the past year). It produced two Black-billed Cuckoos (one seen), two Veery, one Bay-breasted Warbler, many pairs of Scarlet Tanagers. 

We observed another big change in the Garrett State Forest adjacent to Swallow Falls. About mid-way between the campground and the far side of the forest, they've done considerable thinning on one side, in addition to two large clear-cuts. Prior to the cut area, we had a Least Vireo and at the far end of the road, as always, a Canada Warbler. Also a Warbling Vireo and the "usual suspects" - Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green all over the place. Actually three Canada Warblers. Also a Cooper's Hawk taking a bath in a large puddle. Warning - this dirt road is deteriorating, probably due to logging trucks. It now has deep ruts and holes and you need to really take it slow if you don't have high clearance. 

The Swallow Falls campground was as birdy as always. Hanging around the campsites are numerous Blackburnians, Blue-headed Vireos, Scarlet Tanagers, Chipping Sparrows, Magnolia Warblers, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, many woodpeckers including a Hairy nesting over our campsite and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker up close, many Common Yellowthroats, Black-capped Chickadees, and so on. The best thing about this area is not just the number of birds/species but how close they get. The trail between the waterfalls produced two Northern Waterthrush. 

Driving around backroads looking for Mourning Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler, and scouring grassy fields for Bobolink didn't produce anything this year, but we did find a Meadowlark, which was a nice way to end the day.

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