Hi Tweeters;
I just got back from my shift in the Thunder area, during which time
I was delighted to see a Great Gray Owl and a flock of Boreal
Chickadees. Both were in an unburned segment of Dill Creek, in a
spruce bog. The owl cruised by in full daylight and utter silence.
Spruce grouse were fairly common; didn't see any Blues or ptarmigan.
Gray Jays seem to pretty much run the show up there (they were very
numerous).
I have a 'bluebird trail' here in the Methow Valley (NC Washington)-
50 boxes. Over the several years I have had boxes up I commonly get
about 25% Tree Swallows. They have always seemed rather delicate of
constitution but somehow successfully reproduce. This year when I
checked boxes on July 15 (after an absence of one month), of 8 boxes
containing Tree Swallows, 6 contained dead birds- usually 3-5
nearly-ready-to-fledge nestlings. They no doubt died in June. It
was rather pitiful. Any ideas on what could have happened?
Neighboring Western Bluebirds fledged successfully, and in many boxes
raised a second brood. It was even cooler than average this spring,
right into June- but these nestlings were 3/4 grown. I should
mention that the inside front of the boxes are scored so that the
swallows can climb out- I've learned that swallows more than other
birds that might use these boxes can have difficulties exiting.
Thanks-
Dana Visalli