Chris Hill
>I know that occasionally Eastern Kingbird eggs get cooked from the (solar)
>heat from the powerline crossbars they nest on, so if the heat is
>attracting them, it certainly seems to be a maladaptive (dare I say
>fatal) attraction. If I nested in Eastern Washington in June, with a
>nest exposed to the direct sun, the last thing I would be looking for is
>another source of heat!

True enough...though in SE Oregon, where I'm familiar with springtime
nesting of Western Kingbirds, they begin nesting in (mid?) May,
when thunderstorms and cold fronts are frequent. Along with the
occasional fierce, hot day.

But this brings me to Eastern and Western Kingbirds, perhaps you -
or the omniscient Dennis - can enlighten me as to these two critters.

Down at Malheur, I normally see Eastern Kingbirds hanging out in the
willow thickets that border roads through the refuge marshes. Often
perched at the top, occasionally engaged in what would appear to
be territorial disputes. Got some great looks at a three-way
squabble just last week.

Normally there aren't any taller willows or cottonwoods around,
much less powerline crossbars, so I assume they nest in these
willows. They arrive a bit later than Western Kingbirds, and
must normally nest a bit later than them as westerns are often
on the nest when I'm there, but I've not seen easterns on the
nest (I'm always there the week before and after Mem. Day due
to teaching an Elderhostel class the week before).

You mention Eastern Kingbirds nesting on powerline crossbars,
which is much like where I often find Western Kingbird nests:
there, or the tops of transformers, or fairly high up in taller
willows or cottonwoods 'round the plantation manor house.

Perhaps if I got my butt out there in mid-June I'd see for myself
where these Easterns that hang out in low willows by the marsh
nest. They do seem to be setting up territories, though, so I
suspect right along the roadway. In these areas you generally
don't find Westerns. They seem to have fairly distinct
preferences and I'm curious as to what they are.

There were more Eastern Kingbirds at Malheur than I'm used to
seeing, this spring, by far.

Lots of bobolink, too, this year - what's the status of bobolink
in eastern WA? They're scattered spottily across eastern Oregon
where there's marshy meadow (usually in hay).

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>