Those really WERE Lark Sparrows I was talking about in my message of
July 27th, in spite of the presence of the occasional human(s), horses
and man-made structures there on Fort Huachuca, AZ. I remember thinking at
the time that the Lark Sparrow is too strikingly pretty to be classified
as a mere sparrow - ha ha! The resident peacocks got all the attention
from non-birders, though. Chipping Sparrows were much more numerous
right in the paddock areas.

And not to forget the sweet refrains of the territorial flight songs of
Cassin`s Sparrows during the summer monsoon season! I remember once we
spectators (mandatory, in my case) in the bleachers, awaiting a formal
military parade/pass in review to begin, were entertained by seemingly
dozens of fluttering, singing Cassin`s Sparrows in the surrounding
grassy fields. Those Cassin`s Sparrows had to share all that fresh new
grass with the occasional Lilian`s Meadowlark. (Has it been split,
I wonder?). Back then ('69-'71) I used to complain about all the
"Eastern Meadowlarks" around the post, instead of the rightful "western M."

Phil Hotlen <n8540420 at henson.cc.wwu.edu>
Bellingham, WA