Charlie:

My impression is that this is a better-than-average year for Townsend's, and
I think the mildness of the winter (thus far) is definitely a factor. I
live in an area similar to yours, I haven't found any flocks, but I do note
that the Sequim-Dungeness CBC found 10 individuals, a high number and just
one short of our record. Further, birds were present in several territories
there, as opposed to just the traditional sites, like Schoolhouse Pt. Rd
near Sequim Bay SP.

I think Townsend's Warblers, near the northern edge of their wintering range
in the Puget Sound area, are quite sensitive to winter conditions. I recall
that in deep-freeze years (which seem increasingly scarce and many years
back), when temps would fall to the teens overnight, observers noted the
disappearance or reduction of Townsend's, up to reports of finding dead
birds, evidently victims of cold temps and/or starvation. Oppositely, mild
years encourage more winterers; this year, in which we've gone no lower than
the mid to upper 20s F so far, seems to be such a year.

Scott Atkinson
Lake Stevens
email: scottratkinson at hotmail.com

>From: Birdking88 at aol.com
>Reply-To: Birdking88 at aol.com
>To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
>Subject: Townsend's Warblers
>Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 18:38:31 EST
>
>Hey Tweeters,
> I've noticed large numbers of Townsend's Warblers in my yard this
>winter,
>and have recieved more reports of them than expected from the South King
>County region. On most days in the nonbreeding season, mainly fall and
>winter, you can expect to see one or two Townsend's in or around my yard,
>mixed in with the chickadees and kinglets and foraging high in the
>conifers.
>I'm near the foothills at about 600' elevation, and they seem to be a bit
>more common here than in the lowlands. But 4 or 5 days ago, we saw as many
>as
>10 Townsend's Warblers in and around a birdbath in our yard. I've never had
>this many in the yard at any time of the year, particularly in the winter.
>We've seen or heard them every day since then, and had around 8 yesterday
>and
>5 today. They're mostly female and 1st winter females, but at least a
>couple
>of the birds are males. I've gotten some closeup video also.
> Has anyone else noticed more Townsend's Warblers this year, or might
>this
>be just a local influx? Good birding to you all.
>
>Charlie Wright, 13
>Birdking88 at aol.com
>Sumner, WA


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