Happy New Year Tweeters,

I took this week off from work and got out and about. I have a few questions. What should you do with a sick Pine Siskin? I saw one at Discovery Park yesterday and left it there although it was clearly in dire straits. I did see "cat ears" in a Red Tail nest there and hoped the owl found the poor thing last night. Is it worth taking sick Siskins to a rehab? Can they be treated and released?

I also saw two gulls do a weird thing off Alki. I was enjoying the Brant and got distracted by the gulls. They were face to face and at first I thought they were fighting but one had it's head in the others gullet. Both in adult plumage with red spot on the bill. (Don't know the species, that is in my birding future) Anyway, after the gullet inspection both gulls picked up drifting sticks and made soft noises to each other. Is this a pair bonding behavior? I just bought Sibley's Behavior book and read the whole chapter, skimming the taxonomy, on gulls and did not see anything regarding sticking heads down throats and carrying little sticks around.

Also went up north this week and noticed many of the Snow Geese were banded. One had a red neck band on, very sporty and bandana like.

I hope someone has some input for me this posting.

Thanks, and here's to more good birding and learning more in 2002!!

Kathy
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