In answer to Burt Guttman's query, I think Townsend's Warblers are
widespread but patchy here in winter. There are really quite a few of them,
but a minuscule number compared with the number of chickadees and kinglets,
and they're just not present in all the winter flocks. I don't think it's
a habitat thing, as I think their potential wintering habitat encompasses
most forest types in the western lowlands. They are probably more likely
in coniferous than broadleaf forests. As I wrote before, what fascinates
me is the fact that they occasionally aggregate in surprisingly large
flocks on their own; that's what seems somewhat anomalous. It is
interesting that different people in the same area have such different
experiences, and discovering that is certainly one of the things that makes
this forum so important. We've established that there are some differences
in opinion about both women in birding and Townsend's Warblers in winter!

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