A few weeks ago, I cleaned up the yard for spring by removing old, dead stalks from pearly everlasting, bulbs, thistle, etc. I'd left everything in place all winter for whatever purposes the birds might have, however, a Birder's World article reminded me they need twigs, leaves, plant down, and a whole host of building materials for nesting. I carted my 'yard waste' to a bare place under the mock orange by the birdbath. Then, a week or two later, I stuffed a clean suet feeder with feathers and string, and hung it just under the bathroom window in another mock orange. This morning, I was sitting at the window thinking I should move my little yard waste pile because the birds didn't seem interested. All the sudden, a peripheral movement caught my eye. I had the impression of a tiny bird darting into the blooming evergreen clematis (Armani) behind the 'Christmas tree'. Bewick's Wren? Seemed a bit small and Bewick's sneaks along the fence rather than flying to it. Busht!
it? Maybe, but they usually enter from the trees, unless I missed it earlier. Something dropped to the ground looking too heavy for a leaf. I got the binoculars. Yes, a tiny bird was sneaking across the ground toward my yard waste pile. Golden-crowned Kinglet, great views. She examined empty peanut shells (scattered everywhere in my yard!), leaves, twigs, stems and stalks, picking up and dropping in a frustrated hurry. Then, a small downy feather on the ground caught her attention. She picked it up, fiddled with it a little, and kept it, marching on. I watched her peruse at least 10 sq. ft. in a minute or two, finding more under the camellia and hopping into low branches of the aucuba. Hopping up cautiously through the camellia, I caught a good view of her holding at least two small feathers and maybe other things. A full beak. Down with the binoculars to watch her escape behavior. Yes, into the exposed mock orange just now starting to leaf out. Only two stops!
there, still rising. A long (10') haul completely exposed to the low
est cherry branches, also just opening its leaf buds in the shade of a four-story building. Pause to plan the safest route, hop to take-off point. Then the really long haul, probably 30', straight to the 80' conifers (including Doug. fir) where she is apparently building a nest. A bit early by my books that put GCKI nesting beginning in early May. Ah, but what if it wasn't a female building but rather a male going courting with no reason to show his orange stripe. So fun to watch these wonderful creatures.

Patricia Lott
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Seattle, WA
VariedThrush at comcast.net