Gail S. asked -

>I am hoping that I can get some information about why we have so many
>Dark-eyed Juncos in the West Kootenays this spring. I realize that
>DEJU are abundant on the coast, but here we might see at most a dozen
>at one time. This spring we are seeing literally 100's at a time. They
>are found everywhere from the snow line down. Mostly these are male,
>Oregon race. It appears that there are less 20% female Oregons and a
>small number (5%) Slate-colored.

Actually, you are probably seeing a passage of one of the interior
races such as _montanus_ or _cismontanus_ which resemble _oreganus_ to
varying degrees but are paler.

>Is this happening in other places in the interior of the PNW?

No big flocks here in the P.G. area yet.

>Is this a function of snow levels?

IMHO. definitely yes. One only has to harken back to the heavy snow
spring of 1995 and the fantastic passage of Western Tanagers through
the BC interior valleys for an analogue.

> Is this a consequence of a mild winter?

Nope. A heavy snowpack decreases forage capacity of the habitat by
covering up the soil and holding back insect hatches on the above-snow
leaves. Ergo, the birds which would normally migrate at higher
elevations are forced down into the warmer valleys. This is likely why
Nigel is seeing Mountain Bluebirds on Bainbridge I. also.

>Are such irruptions of DEJU common?

Not in my experience. I would say they are rather uncommon. A train
buddy of Michael Price's came in with the largest BC junco report I
have heard of a few years ago in the Lytton/Boston Bar area with about
500 if I recall correctly.

-------
Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jbowling at direct.ca