Subject: Yardbirds Hubbub & Red Crossbills
Date: Aug 17 09:10:48 1994
From: Jim Lyles - jrlyles at fs01dwatcm.wr.usgs.gov



Having just flown back (over the fires in Idaho) from a vacation
in the NC Blue Ridge Mts, I've been catching up on the hubbub
about yardbirds vs. tweeters and other such avian matters.

In one of his missives (which I always look forward to savoring),
Dennis Paulson opined that "statements such as 'red crossbills are
unusually common this spring,' if they come from enough people,
have real significance."

Apropos DP's remark, I've found that Red Crossbills ARE COMMON
this year--at least in Pt. Defiance Park, Tacoma. A flock of
30-35 crossbills has been coming down every morning (every morning,
at least, that I've checked) to bathe and drink in the Native
Garden at Pt. Defiance. I first saw them on July 17 and saw them
again as recently as August 14.

--Jim Lyles (jrlyles at dwatcm.wr.usgs.gov)

I live in north Tacoma, about 10 minutes'
drive along Ruston Way from Pt. Defiance.