I'll third the plea for hawthorn planting. These trees are also in the
Rosaceae, the family that includes our familiar fruit trees--apples, pears,
peaches, apricots, cherries, plums. The combination of rather lightweight
deciduous leaves that attract herbivorous insects, big showy flowers that
attract pollinating insects (including small tasty flies as well as big
mean bees), and bird-edible fruits make this family a winner in the
bird-attracting competition. A densely spined hawthorn tree provides good
cover, too.

To David Wilbur: what did your Red-lored Conure look like? Any chance it
could be the same as the Crimson-fronted Parakeets that are in my (Maple
Leaf) neighborhood? I suppose there are lots of parrots about in the city.

Dennis Paulson phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416