I love Black-throated Green Warblers. My daughter Kelly remembers their call with the mnemonic “Trees, trees, taller trees!” That’s more useful than the “zoo zee, zoo zoo zee” which I learned. Either way, it’s a fun call, just more literally appropriate with my daughter’s version. While typically seen only during migration here in Lansing, I was accustomed to having them throughout the breeding season in the area where I grew up—the hills of south-western New York. Last summer my son and I traveled through Cook Forest in Pennsylvania, which isn’t all that far from my home town. We were treated to hearing many of these gorgeous birds calling from the huge forests trees. They really were singing about the TALL trees there.
Cook Forest is one of my all time favorite places. It boasts large tracts of forest that have never been logged, and the scale of those woods is unbelievable. In addition to gorgeous trees, fern, fungus and loads of great birds, it is a fantastic place to tip rocks and look for salamanders. That activity makes me feel like I’m 8 years old. You never know what treasures you’ll find beneath rocks and logs!
Our spring trip was the first time I’d been to Cook Forest without my wife, Liesl. While Tim and I had a fantastic time, it just wasn’t the same. Some places are even more fun when shared. I really need to get my brother Ted out there with his camera gear!
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