Tweets-

this from Jim, not a listmember.

Tom



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 09:23:20 -0700
From: Jim Pruske <PRUSKJRP at dfw.wa.gov>
To: footet at elwha.evergreen.edu
Subject: Re: Nisqually NWR 6/7/00 (fwd)

On Saturday I birded on the Nisqually Refuge Boardwalk before dusk. At the
display pond I watched three virginia rail fledglings forage in the mud
flats next to the cattails. Thats all I really noted in my journals.
When I awoke on Sunday morning I quickly glanced through my window to
discover what kind of day it was going to be and found a flock of bantails
on and around my feeder station. Not really unusual except... one of the
bandtails was a three quarters albino. It was snow white except for a
light gray coloration on upper wing coverts. It eye color was pink rather
than the normal deep red. Most suprisingly though... it was a ranking
bird in the flock. It was totally accepted and had feeding senority over
most of the other individuals in the flock... I stayed home all day
hoping for the albino to return. Over the course of the day I saw
breeding pairs, small flocks, and a occassional large flock with as many
as thirty individuals. I noticed brooding patches on female bandtails
that were always accompanied with their mate. But the albino never
returned. Alas, I managed to have a great birding day in my very own back
yard. Adios...

Jim Pruske
Accounts Payable / Interagency Pymts
Phone: 360 586-0551
Fax: 360 664-3160
PRUSKJRP at FINANCIAL