Subject: remember Flora & Fauna and a ?
Date: Sep 30 18:37:58 2000
From: Ed Newbold - newboldwildlife at netscape.net


Hi all,
Whenever I buy bird guides I first try Flora & Fauna bookstore because I like
to support a 100% nature independent bookseller. (Flora & Fauna is at 1st and
Washington in Pioneer Square.)

No bird sightings to report, other than Hutton's Vireo responding
magnificently to pishing at Tiger Mountain and Kubota Gardens recently, but I
do have a question.

I'm trying to decide whether to reinstitute my general bird feeding program in
our yard and thinking over the ecological pros and cons. I fed maybe 60 House
Sparrows (all these numbers are low guesses) 50 House Finch, 25 Junco, 8
Golden Crowned Sparrow, 3 Song Sparrow, 15 BC Chickadees, and one Harris
Sparrow last year. (I have about 20 Goldfinch now feeding on thistle seed
which I plan to continue regardless.) It's on Beacon Hill. The article that
appeared in Audubon on feeding didn't even begin to deal with the more
difficult questions about feeding, like is feeding contributing to a decline
of Purple Finch at the expense of a well fed House Finch population. Anyway,
I'm feeling suggestible about this right now, and am wondering if the Harris
Sparrow might come back if we do start feeding again.
Thanks in advance for any pros or cons. Ed Newbold, residential Beacon Hill,
Seattle newboldwildlife at netscape.net

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