In response to Christine, Yes, all is not well in
"Cram-a-lot". As the habitat goes, so go those who
live(d) there. All we can do is try to educate and
set an example by filling our yards with
wildlife-friendly plantings, water sources, etc. to
help give critturs and birds a place to live and feed.
I was surprised by Michal Hobbes' remarks about the
chickadees because it looks like he lives not far from
where I do.

Fortunately we seem to have a pretty stable population
here near Bridle Trails State Park, but I have noticed
that there aren't as many quail coming through as
there used to be, although we do see some in the
neighborhood. Haven't seen "Egbert and Siskin" yet
this year, either (the Pine Siskins, sorry...) just
the usual bunch who are on the feeders year-round
(TOWHEE, BLCAP& CHBACK CHICKADEES, JUNCO, FLICKER,
DOWNY & HAIRY & PILEATED WOODPECKERS, WRENS, SONG
SPARROW, RBNUTHATCH, STJAY, BAND-TAILED PIGEON. Also
lots of other species in the yard but not necessarily
visiting the feeders (i.e., WRENS, BRCREEPER, QUAIL,
TOWNSEND WARBLER, KINGLET). And then some are
seasonal (like ROBIN, VARIED THRUSH, RUFOUS HUMMERS)
but some I wonder if I'm only seeing on an occasional
basis (like EVEGROSBEAK, BUSHTIT, GHOWL) because I'm
not home most of the time, and in winter I'm mostly
home when it's dark (and I don't own any of those
night-vision things). Thankfully I don't get House
Sparrows, or Starlings except occasionally in the
small lawn for a short time in the early summer (they
are STRONGLY discouraged in my yard, although my dad
in West Seattle swears they are the only thing that
keeps the cranefly larvae from destroying his lawn!).

Anyone got any ideas on what else I SHOULD be seeing
in a heavily wooded/coniferous area like Bridle
Trails? Reading Tweeters is stirring me to do more
than the casual watching I've engaged. Maybe I'm not
looking at the right time/place...








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