Yup, it's all over but the shouting for swallows at Nisqually. I didn't get
there last week (did Ft. Lewis, instead), but the week before the swallows
around the shop were in the hundreds, and they were everywhere about the refuge.
The youngsters were practicing crashes trying to catch bugs, and then settling
for food from their mommys (Oh, and daddys, too). They certainly didn't look
ready to be on their own.

Well, the babies must have been getting intensive training, because the swallows
have dispersed. There are only a few Barn Swallows around, and I saw ~no~ Tree
Swallows, although I'll admit I was not on a mission to ~find~ Tree Swallows.
I'm sure the phone lines in the rural areas are now loaded.

I have this feeling that the first big fallout of the swallow crop is happening.
The TRSW youngsters are now probably on their own, and those who were not
genetically equipped to learn how to feed themselves, or whose parents were not
gentically equipped to raise them properly, are falling by the wayside --
Nature's ongoing Total Quality Management Program.

At least I ~think~ dispersal is when the parents say, "OK, I've fed you well,
and taught you all I can. You can do it on your own. Get outta my life!" ????

One of the nesting Western Wood Pewees (ID = call, lower mandible, wing length,
nest location, markings) is ~still~ on the nest, in brooding position. ??? Now,
this is really strange. This is the ~fourth~ week I've seen this bird in that
position. And in any case, they should be done nesting by now. I wonder if the
bird is dealing with infertile eggs, or if she lost the first batch to predation
and is trying again. The male is still hanging around. I spent considerable time
watching the nest today, and there is no chance there are youngsters there.

Otherwise, things were very quiet. Pacific-slope Flycatchers are still active
and audible along the Nisqually in the heavily treed area near the south end of
the trail. Willows were busy, but quiet. I did not see "One Leg." Heard only a
couple Yellowthroats. Saw only one, and heard two other, Yellow Warblers. Not
one Savannah Sparrow.

Jerry


E-mail from: Jerry Blinn, 22-Jul-1996