Hi Tweets,
From the mundane to the exquisite... (but they're all actually
exquisite):
First, robins. On the crossbars immediately under (supporting) our
back deck is a robin nest that has been reused this year. I tiptoed out
one morning several weeks ago to kneel down on the deck and was delighted
to realize that the brown scene about 2" below my eye was three baby
robins tucked into last year's nest. I peeked again about a week or two
later and saw three small birds. Then a few days ago my husband and I were
startled to see a blue egg in the nest ... then the next day two, then the
following day, three.
So the question is, does the presence of the new eggs suggest that
the previous babies met their demise? Or do robins sometimes raise two
separate clutches in a season? And also, are we likely to be traumatizing
them by peeking once a week? (I'd hate to think we were responsible for
any problems!)
Second, bushtits. As I've mentioned on Tweeters before, we've been
blessed with a bushtit nest a few feet from our family-room window. It's
in a large Oregon Grape in our neighbor's yard. He's been kind enough to
hold off refinishing that side of the house till the babies have fledged.
But how do I know when that's happened? I'm not sure if my not seeing them
recently is from just not being home at the right time or if they've gone.
Are bushtits likely to be mature by now?
Finally, harlequin ducks. I was surprised on the afternoon of May
15 to see four harleys (3M 1F, looked like one MF pair and two singles)
diving a few feet offshore of the beach north of the point. Is it unusual
to see harlequins this late in the season? (What a pleasure!)

Thanks and happy spring birding,
Trileigh Stroh

Seattle University
Ecological Studies Department