Hello birders, this is the Bird Brain, voice of Seattle
Audubon's Bird Sightings Hotline for SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 1994,
at 8 AM.

To skip the details and just leave a message punch 5 and
wait for the tone.

For sick or injured birds call the Wild Bird Clinic at 941-
2174 [or PAWS at 743-3845 or 743-1884].

BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS continue to make news. Wilson Cady
saw one at a feeder near his home in Clark Co. June 9 for a
first county record and Vic Nelson reports another at the
Pt. No Point lighthouse June 7. The number of west side
Black-throated vagrants this spring is unprecedented and may
reflect drought conditions in their breeding areas.

A singing CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was found May 28 east of
Spokane. Go east from Spokane on I-90 to the Liberty Lake
exit, then north to the Spokane River. Take the Centennial
Trail west along the south bank of the river about 600
yards. Listen for the bird in low brush here. Another
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW returned to the site of a 1991
observation along Toats Coulee Rd. in n Okanogan Co. The
spot is 1.7 miles west of the Okanogan National Forest
boundary which is marked by a sign and a cattle guard. The
singing bird is on the brushy hillside above, that is,
north, of the road.

The EMPEROR GOOSE was present at Everett's 10th St. Marina
with resident CANADAs May 29. A pair of ARCTIC TERNs are
apparently nesting on the south end of Jetty Island. The
CASPIAN TERN colony there has now reached over 3000 birds.
PURPLE MARTINS are prospecting for nests in pilings north of
the marina in Pt. Garner Bay.

At the Everett STP June 5 Steve Mlodinow counted 17 species
of ducks. These ponds host some of the less common nesting
waterfowl species of western Washington. Three EASTERN
KINGBIRDS were located nearby June 7 on the ne corner of
Spencer Island. There is limited public access to Spencer
Island at present. Another EASTERN KINGBIRD was seen one
mile south of Duvall June 7 and a single WESTERN KINGBIRD
was one mile nw of Duvall that same day. Both KINGBIRDS are
rare nesters west of the Cascades.

Mlodinow also reports lingering PACIFIC, RED-THROATED, and
COMMON LOONS off Swantown and 70+ HARLEQUIN DUCKS at the
mussel platforms in Penn Cove on Whidbey Is., presumably
summering non-breeders.

The mother of Seattle's first PEREGRINE chicks died after
hitting a building June 8. The three chicks were rescued
and at this poing are doing well having been adopted by a
captive PEREGRINE pair at a rehab center in Monroe. They
will be released to the wild. Call the special Falcon
Research Group hotline at 517-9513 for details of their
daily movements and to report observations.

A pair of LAZULI BUNTINGS has a nest operative at the
Russell Rd. P-Patch west of the Kent ponds. RED-EVED VIREOS
have returned and were noted in Seattle at the Arboretum and
on the north bluff at Discovery Park, both unusual
locations. An an yet unidentified exotic WEAVER FINCH with
a bright orange head & tail, black face, and rufous striped
mantle was at the Montlake Fill June 3 & 4.

Patrick Sullivan reports that Tacoma's SLATY-BACKED GULL is
still being seen along the lower reaches of the Puyallup
River on the Tacoma waterfront. Stewart St provides the best
access.

Andy Stepniewski reports that all the usual breeding birds
are in place in the Lyle vicinity at the east end of the
Columbia Gorge in Klickitat Co., including LESSER
GOLDFINCHES ca 1/2 mi n of SR 14, along SR 142.

Mike Denny reports good numbers of the usual Walla Walla
area nesters in the foothills of the Blue Mountains
including CATBIRDS, CHATS, and VEERIES. There is a small
flock of FRANKLIN'S GULLS present at low water at the mouth
of the Walla Walla River at Wallula. WHITE PELICANS are
also seen regularly here.

For SAS field trips, or for information on conservation and
education issues please call the office at 523-4483 during
office hours, 10-4 Tuesday through Friday and 10-2 Saturday.

That's all for now. If you have news to report, wait for
the tone, then give your name, phone number, and the
details. Thanks and good birding.