New Arrivals:

CHIPPING SPARROW: I saw my first chippies of the year along McIntosh Road,
Whitman Co., on Sunday, April 26, 1998. Two where perched on a fence near a
nest box I was checking. I didn't hear any singing.

HOUSE WREN: A male was investigating a nest box and singing near the Rose
Creek Preserve, Whitman Co., WA, on Sunday, April 26, 1998. I think I heard
a few others singing.


Nesting updates:

WESTERN BLUEBIRDS: On Sunday, April 26, 1998, there were nine Western
Bluebird nests with eggs (including six with complete clutches and the
females were incubating) and one nest with 4 young (about 1 day old). There
were also four nests that were complete and look like they will have eggs
soon. All of the nest boxes are along the Rose Creek Area nest box trail
(Whitman Co., WA).

MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD: On Sunday, April 26, 1998, there was one Mountain
Bluebird nest with eggs. It was a complete clutch and she was incubating
when we opened the box.

VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS: On Sunday, April 26, 1998, we saw several swallows
investigating boxes along the nest box trail but we didn't find any active
swallows nests (a few boxes had feathers in them but not shaped into a nest.

SONG SPARROW: On Sunday, near one of the boxes, I observed two Song
Sparrows carrying insects. They were chipping insistently and were clearly
taking the insects to the nest. I didn't want to disturb them so I left
without looking for the nest.

MOURNING DOVE: The nest fledged two young last week.

GREAT HORNED OWL: I am now following three owls nests. One nest (along
Albion-Palouse Road) has fledged two young which can be seen from the road
at close range. The nest along the Albion Road still has two young in the
nest. Sunday, I located a nest along Parvin Road; it contains one young
about ready to fledge.

CANADA GOOSE: Still incubating on the sewage ponds along Albion Road on
Monday, April 27.

AMERICAN ROBIN: On Sunday, there were four young about two days old.

Spring is in full swing!

Cheers
Deb

Deb Beutler
Department of Zoology
P.O. Box 644236
Washington State University
Pullman (Whitman Co.), WA 99164-4236
dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu