Subject: Nisqually Lazuli
Date: Jun 11 11:00:22 2000
From: Eugene Kridler - ekridler at olympus.net


Jerry:

On May 18 I observed an adult male about 5 miles due north of Sequim. Reported
it on tweeters that day. Several days later Larry Rymon saw on at his home
about 5 miles southwest of Sequim. Whether it was another bird or the same bird
is anybody's guess.

Very interesting the number of sightings in the general Puget Sound area. Is it
extending its range? Only time will tell.

Last time I encountered this beautiful little species was 1960-64 when I banded
140 at Malheur N.W. Refuge where I was stationed as the refuge biologist. The
bird was one of my favorites.

Gene Kridler
Old Broken Down Biologist
Sequim, Wa.
ekridler at olympus.net

Jerry Blinn wrote:

> A couple weeks ago, a Tweeter mentioned seeing a Lazuli Bunting at
> Nisqually NWR -- a relatively unusual bird for western WA.
>
> The Lazuli was also present there on June 2, visible from the elevated
> "swallow viewing platform" at Twin Barns, and was seen today by the Second
> Annual Kitsap Audubon Nisqually Field Trip group, visible at both the
> platform and the east leg of the Twin Barns Loop -- we assume the same
> individual.
>
> BTW, an American Bittern landed at the base of the viewing area at the
> refuge center, executed a pas de quatre, and flew off. It seems to me that
> this bird is getting pretty familiar.
>
> Jerry Blinn
> Silverdale, WA
> EMail: <jerry at avisys.net>
> Web site: <www.avisys.net>