I spent this morning visiting a few spots in and around Darby Creek southwest of Columbus.  Most of the sites were open or forest edge, but two sites in Battelle-Darby MetroPark were forest trails: Indian Ridge & Cedar Ridge.  What's become surprising after over 10 years of re-visiting these sites is that one of the forest patches - Indian Ridge - is now mature in such a way as to attract lots of deep forest breeding birds.  An hour hike along the Terrace Trail at this site included good #s of

E.Wood Pewee - at least 8 calling birds on territory
Acadian Flycatcher - at least 10+ calling birds and several nests
Yellow-throated Vireo - 2+ singing birds
Red-eyed Vireo - 12-14 singing birds, about as many as I've had along the Darby
Wood Thrush - 6+ singing birds, plus 2 others trailing fledgelings
Ovenbird - 3 singing birds, all in upland forest
Kentucky Warbler - 2 singing birds on territories in upland forest
Scarlet tanager - 2-3 singing birds, mostly in upland forest

What's apparent is that the forest canopy is not as 'mature' as the understory, since there are fewer high canopy species than one would expect in a older, larger forest.  Also, over the years field and edge birds like White-eyed Vireos, Yellow Warblers, Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and Common Yellowthroats have become tougher to find here.

Nearby Cedar Ridge has an older forest, but it's a narrow riparian-and-ravine forest rather than the large block of upland forest at Indian Ridge.  Smaller numbers of Flycatchers, but the riparian forest and edge make for a somewhat different bird clientele:
Crested Flycatcher - 2 calling
White-eyed Vireo - 2 duel-singing at entrance
Yellow Warbler - 1 singing
Parula Warbler - 2 singing on territories
Yellow-throated Warblers - 3 singing on territories, while another fed a fledgeling
Common yellowthroat - 1-2 singing
Field Sparrow - 2 singing

I had not really thought of the Darby as a warbler destination, but as these forests mature, it seems to be becoming just that.  No Ceruleans or Redstarts yet, but it may just be a matter of time.

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