June 9, 2022
I have a complicated relationship with this bird. It’s mostly good; he just made me work really hard to find him is all. I’ll try to set the scene.
It was June in Oklahoma. I was intrigued by a bird I’d read about called a Black-capped Vireo that is thought to breed exclusively in Oklahoma, Texas, and northern Mexico. They were declared endangered in the 80’s with a population of 350 reported individuals. Since then, thanks to persistent conservation efforts, they’ve been removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife but still maintain a narrow breeding range. Word is they stick around their breeding grounds from mid-April to mid-September, so I was at the right place at the right time. Queue Dumb and Dumber: “So you’re saying there’s a chance?”
A search on eBird’s species map pointed me to Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge as a reliable place to check. At just under an hour and a half away, I was sold. I closed my laptop and set an alarm for 6 am.
My first mission was unsuccessful as far as Black-capped Vireos went. I consoled myself thinking, “I was just scouting the area” and “I’ll find one next time.” Despite spending the entire day looking for Black-capped Vireos to no avail, the rest of the expansive refuge made up for it. Bison the size of rhinoceroses roamed in rolling meadows on either side of the road. Dickcissels sang from every five meters of fencing. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers swooped through the air, flashing their apricot-colored wings. Summer Tanagers stood perched like apples in a tree. Painted Buntings were so abundant, a volunteer at the Visitor’s Center said one flew within a meter of her car on her drive in. And then the prairie dogs, of course.
Fast forward a few days, the time had come for round two. I studied Black-capped Vireo vocalizations the night before and replayed them a few times before leaving. I started the day at a campground I’d scoped out during my last visit and right away thought I heard one vocalizing. I followed the sound down a steep hill, dodging thorny shrubs and ducking under branches the entire way down. There was a stream at the bottom of the hill, which is prime habitat for these birds. I thought I had it in the bag. The bird called repeatedly but was so high up, I feared my view might be obstructed. At the same time, I didn’t want to move around too much and risk him flying away. After an hour of dancing on this fine line, I finally located the perpetrator: a White-eyed Vireo. Agony! This happened again a few hours later. I left with another goose egg.
I allowed myself a third and final attempt. This time, I told myself I couldn’t leave until either I found one or it got dark, whichever came first. I also decided if I found a Black-capped Vireo, I’d reward myself with IHOP. Sidenote: I’d been randomly craving IHOP since arriving in Oklahoma. I was determined to find this little guy if it was the last thing I did.
After seven hours of traversing the refuge in 100 degree humid weather, I still hadn’t seen a Black-capped Vireo. Nonetheless, I was prepared to stick to my word: no bird, no leave. On my way to another site in the refuge, I saw a lady standing on the side of the road with her binoculars focused on a tree. I pulled over and asked if I could join her.
She said she saw a Black-capped Vireo moments earlier and was trying to refind it. I heard them calling from all around us and was fueled with a second wave of energy. I was closer than I’d been all day. Long story short, an entire flock of Black-capped Vireos ended up being in those trees and we both got great views. Her name is Pat and for her help, I will be forever grateful. For the record, no, I did not end up getting IHOP that night but still fell asleep happy as a dog.
I’m sure it’s very possible to find these birds on the first attempt— three tries was just how the cookie crumbled for me. At the end of the day, it was a sweet, sweet find. A few of the locations they’re thought to hang out within Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge are listed below. Happy birdin’, yal.
Elk Mountain Trail
Environmental Education Center
Lost Lake Picnic Area
Quanah Parker Dam
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Gone Birdin' 