Hotline: Lower Columbia Basin
Date: December 31, 1996
Phone: 509-943-OWLS
Compiler: Bob Woodley
Transcribers: Bill and Nancy LaFramboise, wlafra at oneworld.owt.com

Birds reported:

Rusty Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Western Scrub-Jay
feeder visitors during the snow and cold

-transcript
This is the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society Bird Alert for December 31,
1996. For any questions regarding LCBAS call Mike Lilga at 946-8966.

To bypass the announcement, push the star button on your phone and leave a
message after the tone.

Definitely the best bird of the month is the RUSTY BLACKBIRD discovered by
Dennis Rockwell on December 21. It was found among Brewer's Blackbirds on
the east end of that segment of Game Farm Road accessible only from the
south end of Oak Street in Kennewick.

On the east end of the farthest east segment of Game Farm Road, Ruth
Fischer, my wife Pat and I (Bob Woodley) found a lone YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD in a large flock of Brewer's and Red-winged Blackbirds. Also on
December 21.

On December 22, a search by Tony Greager, Dennis and Glenda Rockwell, Ruth
Fischer and I at the Rusty Blackbird location, failed to find the bird.
However Ruth and I did find the WESTERN SCRUB-JAY at its preferred location
at E 4th Place in Kennewick.

A flock of over 100 Red-winged Blackbirds plus a lone YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD visited Ruth Fischer's feeders in Richland on December 31.

Visitors to my yard and feeders have included a Mourning Dove, a Downy
Woodpecker, a Red-breasted Nuthatch, Cedar Waxwings, a Spotted Towhee,
Red-winged Blackbirds, and the usual Song and White-crowned Sparrows,
juncos, House Finches, and American Goldfinches. And of course, once or
twice a day a Sharp-shinned Hawk will interrupt the banquet.

Walks through snowy Groves Park in Richland have not yielded anything
extraordinary.

Have a safe New Year's Eve , a Happy New Year, and don't forget the local
Christmas Bird Count on Saturday January 4. For count details, call Phil
Bartley at 783-5265.

To report your own sightings, please give your name, phone number and
sightings after the tone. Thank you.


Bill and Nancy LaFramboise
Richland, WA
wlafra at oneworld.owt.com