Hi Tweets,

This fall, like others in the past, I've noticed what sounds like partial
spring song from Song Sparrows, and Robins. These observations have led me
to speculate that there may be a relationship between the time of year and
the availability of light that perhaps stimulates a hormonal response much
like the one birds experience in the spring. The light we're experiencing
now is comparable to mid/late March, right? Any experts out there care to
chime in on this? It is rather startling to see the leaves changing and then
hear a Song Sparrow up and singing for all he's worth...but only getting
part of the song.

On another note (arrgh), today at noon, I had a Merlin on the wing in
downtown Bellingham. On Monday at the same time of day, I watched a female
adult Peregrine perch up on the relay tower that sits on top of the US West
building on Forest St.. She sat there preening for the better part of an
hour. I'm guessing this is the same falcon I saw six weeks ago flying right
up Holly St., the main drag in town.

Good birding,
Joe Mackie
Bellingham, WA
jmackie at cc.wwu.edu


>Yesterday, the same day you saw the flickers displaying, I heard a
commotion
>and went out to find a couple of Downy Woodpeckers engaged in an aggressive
>or courtship display. Here in Pullman, I wouldn't expect them to be
>settling down to next this time of year. Squabbling over winter
>territories? Youngsters getting old enough to stake out a plot?

Kelly Cassidy
Pullman WA
lostriver at completebbs.com

>I look out my window this moment to see no less than 5, possibly 6 Red
>Shafted(?) Flickers, bouncing around my horse chesnut & neighboring pine.
>They are engaging in some sort of display - head bobbing, a regular piping
>accompanying the bobs, and fanned displays of their tail feathers. Without
>knowing any better, I'd say it was a courtship display. As I recall, they
>do winter over here. Do they nest in fall as well?
>
>Rgds,
>
>Jeff Allen