Subject: Re: Hungry Merlin
Date: Feb 11 20:45:47 1998
From: Jerry Converse - sanjer at televar.com


Mary K. Rogers wrote:

> Last Sunday afternoon while reading the paper, I glanced out the window
> and saw an unfamiliar bird on top of a telephone in the next block.

On top of a telephone?? Was it making a local or long distance call. I
couldn't resist that. Just kidding. :-))


> I'm pretty sure it was a Merlin. I think I saw it a couple weeks ago too, at the top of a pine tree in the same block.

I am no expert by a long shot, but the Merlins I have seen were always
at the top of the tree. Is this usually true tweeters?

>Coincidentally, I haven't seen a House Sparrow in my Ballard neighborhood in weeks.

We should be so fortunate. There are about 30 House Sparrows that hang
out right by the feeder and hassle the Goldfinches. Maybe the
Goldfinches put out a contract on the House Sparrows and hired the
Merlin to take care of the problem. ;-)

Jerry Converse
Grand Coulee, WA