So sorry to repeat this for those on BirdChat, but it is worth sharing.


Tom Schooley, Olympia WA , dunlin at mail.tss.net
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> From: Jeff Wilson <OLCOOT1 at AOL.COM>
> To: BIRDCHAT at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
> Subject: [BIRDCHAT] It's Sparrowdise !!
> Date: Sunday, October 19, 1997 6:41 PM
>
> October 19,1997
> Britton Ford, Tenn.
>
> It's Sparrowdise !!
>
> The extensive rains of late June and July have paid off in spades
> for the newly arriving sparrow clans. No self-respecting grass can
> hold its seed laden head up, from the paniculated Panicum to the
> tiny Timothy and flashy Foxtail, seeds abound. The Barnyard Grass,
> Redtop and even Johnson Grass are beautiful with their bending heads
> nodding in the wind or from the sparrow feeding forays. The sparrows
> are everywhere in the fields today, great numbers have moved into
> the area within the last week.
>
> The few early arrivals had had the bounty to themselves but are now
> forced to share with multitudes. Everyone seems quite happy and are
> getting along very well because of the bounty. The Song Sparrows in all
> their size and color variations are only out numbered by the Savannah
> Sparrows and their many variants. The Swamp Sparrows, some still
> sporting bright but worn plumage, seem to be in good numbers but
> are not as outgoing and tend to hold back from some of this joy of
plenty.
> The tiny Field Sparrows remind me of a band of red headed kids with
> ruddy faces and crewcuts, all tumbling and scooting about. Their
> classier cousins the Chipping Sparrows are hanging out just up the
> road at the woodlot edge, they are not much for all this banal frivolity.
>
> Even the staid Mr. White-throated has come from the field edge and
> is in the middle of the mix. His clean white head stripes, white chin
> and bright yellow lores seem out of place. He stands out like a butler
> at a costume party, is he a participant or just here to (ob)serve?
Another
> surprise is a lurking Lincoln's Sparrow, just briefly showing himself
when
> absolutely necessary. He has a bookish, learned look and is dressed in
the
> most tasteful suit, just the right accents of color placed ever so
properly.
>
> I catch just a head peering at me above the grass tops. It is a shy
princess
> with the finest of gold surrounding a sweet face, the black and white on
> the head and the white eye ring are each as perfect as the gray and
chestnut
> scarf draw around her nape. I suddenly realize that I have made my way
> into her domain, a solid stand of Panicum Grass. It's as if I'm standing
> knee deep on a flaxen colored sheet, thrown over a feather mattress,
> delicate flowers of Pink Ladyfinger define the edges with lacey white
> and lavender asters finishing the trim. The LeConte's Sparrow is always
> glorious wherever you find them but never so much so as in Panicum Grass,
> truly an elegant setting for such a stunning bird.
>
>
>
> The sparrows chase about and once in a while bubble with song, a
> celebration of all species is in full swing in these fields of plenty.
> Time is short but for now food is abundant, winter territories can wait.
> Soon a cold hand will lie on these fields and some of you will travel
> farther south and others will stay and seek out a living under these very
> same grasses. They will then give needed cover and also protected
> beneath will be seed. Hidden from the snow and ice these will provide
> much needed energy for you and also a few in a million will survive to
> sprout next year. With the cold weather the larger, hardier White-crowned
> and Fox Sparrows will arrive and hopefully we will be visited again by
the
> beautiful Tree Sparrow.
>
> I'll leave you to your feeding and games as I have a long drive ahead.
> When I come back this way in the gray days to come I will hear your
> short whispering songs thrown into the wind. I will then wonder if they
> are given in remembrance of these bountiful times or as a longing for
> the still distant spring.
>
> Good Birding!!!
>
> Jeff R. Wilson
> Bartlett, Tenn.
> OLCOOT1 at aol.com