> Just another "small picture" anecdotal observation which seems to
> supplement the "big picture" postings:
>
> Since I began observing in the woodlot and adjacent floodplain behind the
> southwestern BC campus where I work, I regularly saw and heard OSFL every
> summer from 1992 through 1995, often high in forest-edge western red cedars
> overlooking the floodplain. For the summer of 1996 I had no OSFL at all.

Conversely, the big tyrannid with the unkempt look had one of its best years
in 1996 around the central interior of BC with all field observers reporting
good numbers compared to recent years. This confirmed by the four BBSes run
around the Prince George area. Note that this is a relatively undeveloped
area compared to the WA/OR area and heavily logged. I think there may be
something to the good habitat/lousy food base theory. Note that this species
used to be quite common in the 1930s in the BC part of the Okanagan Valley early
in its agricultural development stage. As human population increased and
pesticides become more rampant, the OSFL gradually disappeared as a breeding
bird from the valley floor. This also happened to many other flycatchers.

- Jack

Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca