While everyone else was chasing the Bristle-thighed Curlew (I am so
envious), I was trapped at home trying to analyze data. However, a few good
birds kept me company outside my house in Albion, Whitman County, Washington.

WESTERN TANAGER: This bird was clearly a migrant (I've never seen or heard
one any where near the Palouse). It flew in and perched on the top of some
ornamental cedars across the street. It perched long enough for me to look
at it with the binoculars and admire its beauty (it was a male) and then it
flew off and wasn't seen again. This was Saturday, May 16.

BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD: A male has been appearing off and on at my
feeder (now that I have switched back to my old reliable; he didn't like the
bee-proof one). He first appeared on May 8, took one look at the bee-proof
feeder and took off (didn't even use it!) I hung my old feeder on May 15
and by May 16 the hummer was back.

CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD: A female has been appearing daily at the feeder. She
doesn't eat much but visits often. Her story is the same as the BCHU: she
didn't like the old feeder and reappeared not long after I hung the old feeder.

AMERICAN ROBIN: A very young robin appeared early Sunday morning with its
father. The father flew off but the young stuck around and took a bath in
the water I provide. He was adorable. I don't think he came from the nest
behind my house; four birds fledged from there May 8 and they are much older
than this bird.

EUROPEAN STARLING: Several juveniles showed up this morning (May 18).

WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW: My last sighting was on Friday, May 15. There has
only been one bird for a few weeks; now there are none.

BREWER'S BLACKBIRD: There have been at least four visiting on a regular
basis; usually there are two males and two females. The males are busy
courting the females.

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS: I have several that visit off and on all day, all
male. Today, May 18, I had my first female at the feeder (there have been
many females in the wetlands nearby).

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS: I have had a single male at my feeder for about a
week. This morning I was treated to a pair (male actively guarding a
female), and an unpaired male and female (ignoring each other and the other
cowbirds). Most people would consider this a plague rather than a treat but
I study cowbirds so I like them.

HOUSE FINCHES: There are at least three fledgling HOFI at my feeders on a
regular basis. They are often accompanied by a parent (usually the male).

CASSIN'S FINCH: One female is still hanging around on Sunday, May 17.

EVENING GROSBEAK: I think they are still passing through. I had a lone
female on May 15, two females on May 16, two females and a male on May 17,
and a female on May 18 (before I left at 0900).


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