Subject: Birds moving on (long)
Date: Aug 8 06:27:09 2002
From: Joanne H Powell - jopowell2 at juno.com


Hi, all:

On Friday I noticed there were only about 30-35 rough-winged swallows
sitting on the wire running across the creek. By the time I got back from
Seattle on Monday they were all gone. It's been 38o for 3 mornings (at
about 5:30a) and yesterday it was down to 30o, so early morning meals are
no longer up and about for them. The Bullock's oriole family has left
town, too.

I noticed yesterday that there were 3 fledgling red crossbills at the
sunflower seeds; I've had 4 "batches" this year of which I could be sure.


The hummers have returned in full force. They tend to fade into the
background when they're feeding their young, concentrating on insects,
but as soon as the babies fledge they bring them to the 3 feeders I have
up at this time. I still see male adult black-chinned but the male
rufuous leaves early on in the process, while the male calliope tends to
stick around until the middle of July. It's really fun watching the green
backs of the male rufuous kids slowly turn...well...rufuous.

I had been worried about the towhees because of the brown-headed
cowbirds, but there has been an explosion of juveniles in the last 3
weeks, in all stages of plumage. My count is up to 12 so far. What a
relief!

The house finches seem to have had a good breeding year after the heavy
infestation of eye disease. As I understand it, that disease dies down in
the summer so I suppose the ones that didn't die off in the spring had.
what? Less competition for food so they could raise bigger clutches? With
the supply of insects in this valley that's probably not likely. Perhaps
the survivors are stronger and can raise a larger number of young to
adulthood? Interesting to think about but too many variables! At any
rate, I have lots and lots (a scientifically accurate counting term) of
healthy house finches this year.

This is the first year I've had an appreciable number of California
Quail. Early in the year the covey numbered about 45-50. Then they split
up during breeding. Now I have a "single dad" caring for two different
clutches totalling 16 chicks. There are 6 "teenage" sized chicks, and 10
are about half their size. There is also one pair with one chick left.
I've seen quail merge families when they needed to, but these 2 don't
seem to have gotten that idea yet.

The pair of Eastern Kingbirds that come here every year appear to have
raised one chick. I've only seen one at a time on the wire where they
like to perch to hawk.

There are a few Townsends Solitaires that appear very late in the year
and stay a couple of weeks, probably fattening up before continuing their
migration. I'm looking forward to seeing them again even if they mean
winter is creeping up! And, of course, the white-crowned sparrows will be
coming for a short visit on their way south. So there's still summer
birds to see and enjoy until the snow falls and the year-rounds move back
down to the feeders.

Regards, Joanne
Reardan (Spokane) WA
mailto: jopowell2 at juno.com