The last week or two here in Anchorage, people have been
reporting what they consider unusual amounts of yard birds -
warblers and kinglets as well as the regular seed-eaters. In
fact, my yard has been more active than I ever remember,
with Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped and Wilson's Warblers
flitting around the trees, many juvie White-crowned Sparrows
and Juncos, the usual Chickadees.

BLM set up some mist nets in our large local wilderness
park and since I volunteer bird-band whenever possible,
I called the bander involved and he said he needed all
the help he could get. Went out yesterday for the first time
and in 4 net hours we caught over 240 birds! I was
impressed. Had them all processed by an hour after
net closing. Fortunately there were 5 experienced people
on hand, including one woman who has dealt with many
200 bird days out on the Alaska Peninsula.

I couldn't even tell you all the species caught, but there
were lots of Orange-crowned and Wilson's Warblers,
a good many Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers,
the odd Townsend's and Blackpoll, many Ruby-crowned
and Golden-crowned Kinglets, many Juncos, a few
Lincoln's Sparrows, one or more White-crowned
Sparrows. Only one chickadee, thank god.

Look out down South. They're coming at you.

Chris Maack
Anchorage, AK
CMaack at compuserve.com