Listening to a Continent Sing

the companion website to the book by Donald Kroodsma

BARN SWALLOW WY-250

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

June 1, 6:43 a.m.

Sunrise at 5:45 a.m.

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A barn swallow singing beside the boathouse at Jenny Lake; in the background is the roar of Cottonwood Creek that empties Jenny Lake in Teton National Park.

Initially I am walking, searching for him, and there he is! Mid-way through the first song I get the microphone aimed at him, and he next offers a partial song and then two more complete songs, the first, third, and last songs all with the characteristic ending, the finger-running-over-the-comb rattle.

Background

Yellow warbler, mountain chickadee, warbling vireo, yellow-rumped warbler.

basw-1

Photo by John Van de Graaff