"We all need a technological detox; we need to throw away our phones and computers instead of using them as our pseudo-defence system for anything that comes our way. We need to be bored and not have anything to use to shield the boredom away from us. We need to be lonely and see what it is we really feel when we are."
― Evan Sutter
Part I: Merlin in 2026
This spring the Merlin app seems more ubiquitous than ever, bringing with it a grating new phenomenon I'm dubbing "The Narrator." There you are, fully immersed in the moment and tuned into the subtle chips and trills of the woods, only to have the peace shattered by someone announcing every digital hit their phone registers. Phrases like "Merlin is picking up a Summer Tanager!" become a live commentary that competes with the birds themselves. It's distracting enough that I find myself walking away just to reclaim the canopy's choir. Naturally, this tends to occur more so when birding popular hot spots during peak migration.
The main issue remains that Merlin, while somewhat impressive,
is far from perfect. I've watched it misidentify American
Goldfinch chatter as Indigo Bunting or report species that simply
aren't present (some of which are being reported to eBird without confirmation). Because of those frequent hallucinations, a Merlin
announcement puts you on the spot—do you stop what you're doing to
search for a bird that might just be a digital glitch?
Part II: Baxter's Hollow
On Wednesday, Sue, Mark, Dottie, and I spent part of the day at Baxter's Hollow in the Baraboo Hills checking for warblers on territory. We had great luck with Hooded and Cerulean Warblers, Ovenbirds, and Louisiana Waterthrushes. No sign of Acadian Flycatchers or Scarlet Tanagers quite yet—but it won't be long. My impression is that it’s been a strong spring for Golden-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, and Magnolia and Chestnut-sided Warblers. My 2026 warbler count is currently at 31 species, which is right on track for mid-May. It probably won't be a repeat of 2020's 37, but that's perfectly fine.
Baxter's Hollow remains an amazing retreat from the crowds, located just a half hour away from home.
The birding highlight was two male Louisiana Waterthrushes, locked in a fierce territorial battle. They zipped up and down Otter Creek like angry darts. There was no clear victor by the time we left, but I imagine they'll have it sorted out in a few days.
Though the song is diagnostic, here we can observe salient field marks:
- Clean throat
- Longer supercilium (brow)
- Pink/orange legs
- Buffy flanks
- Short tail projection
As I've written here before, no single field mark is necessarily definitive for identification; both Louisiana and Northern Waterthrushes can exhibit individual variability—when not singing, one should build a case to separate these two extremely similar species with multiple plumage features.
Yellow Lady-slippers (Cypripedium parviflorum) were open ...
And Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), too ...
Between migration's peak and a string of cooler days, my attention has
shifted primarily to birding. The tiger beetle season has been on a
weather-induced hiatus, but I expect Six-spotted, Northern Barrens, and
Hairy-necked to be the next to find. Summer species—Ghost,
Punctured, and Sandy Stream—aren't expected until at least late June.
Until then, birds will take center stage as the early summer and fall
beetle cohorts emerge.
A more extensive May songbird post is in the works!
All images © 2026 Mike McDowell