The birds that arrived in March are very active these days. The Mountain =
Bluebirds are investigating the nesting boxes and trying to prove who is =
the more macho male. Some are also just passers by, heading for other =
sites. The Horned Grebes are in breeding plumage but still in a flock of =
about 50(I assume they break up for pairing off and nesting).
The most awe inspiring sight of the weekend was a flock of about 70 =
Tundra Swans resting in the middle of the lake. It appeared that they =
collect sets of chums to keep them company: mallards, gulls(sp), Canada =
Geese and Horned Grebes. A pair of Common Goldeneyes resisted the =
invitation. "Rubber ducky" calling American Wigeons share the sloughs =
with tons of Mallards and a few American Coots.
Female Red-winged Blackbirds are visiting our feeder in greater numbers =
than males. My suspicion is that the males have moved to nesting sites =
to begin establishing territories.
We had a pair of American Kestrels last weekend, but no local residents =
yet.
The insect eaters are popping up. Lots of Tree Swallows, some =
Violet-green Swallows, one Say's Phoebe, a Northern Shriek, and one =
Western Bluebird. We also saw a pair of Townsend's Solitaires about a =
week ago, scruffing about on the forest floor.
Funny what turns your crank, this Spring we have a Spotted Towhee in our =
yard. The first!=20
Can the hummers be far off?
Gail Spitler
Johnsons Landing, BC
gspitler at awinc.com