The feeder in question is a cylinder of 1/4" mesh with a pan or tray on the
bottom where some debris collects. It is quite possible the TOWA was eating
insects in the debris. Unfortunately I cleaned it out without looking at
what was in it. I'll try to observe what is happening next time. The TOWA
was also hanging around a suet & peanut butter cake but I didn't see him try
to feed from it. The Juncos trying to cling the to suet cage kept him away.
The Juncos also try to cling to the sunflower seed feeder mesh and take seeds.
It is quite possible they are learning from observing the chickadees.

I thought the brilliance of the TOWA's plumage was remarkable.


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>From TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu Mon Jan 8 13:38:34 1996
Date: Mon, 8 Jan 1996 13:33:58 -0800
Reply-To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sender: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
From: dpaulson at ups.edu (Dennis Paulson)
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: Townsend's Warbler.
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>I have Townsend's Warblers (TOWA?) show up on my property periodically.
>Yesterday the sighting was unique in that a brilliantly plumaged male appeared
>to be feed at my sunflower seed feeder. Is this unussual? TOWA's have not
>been mentioned as potential
> feeder birds that I know of.

It would be interesting to get a good look at exactly what the bird as
doing, as I can't imagine a Townsend's Warbler being able to open a
sunflower seed, and I have never heard of warblers eating seeds. All eat
insects, some of them add fruit and/or nectar during winter, and some of
them feed on suet, but seeds--??

Dennis Paulson, Director 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




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