Subject: [Tweeters] YardBirdRace news/OGrady Park/swallows!
Date: Apr 24 21:47:03 2006
From: Ed Newbold - ednewbold1 at yahoo.com




Hi All,

YARDBIRDRACE NEWS

New records are guaranteed in the YARDBIRDRACE!!! On Whidbey Island where there is no previous record the FLYING FLOYDS are at 58 as of 4/17 in Freeland. On Bainbridge a record is guaranteed with the current leader there being CONNIE BICKERTON. Key Peninsula is guaranteed a new record as CHRIS RHOADS was already at 47 by 3-19. It looks like the Seattle overall record of 62 is in big trouble as SHARON BAKER in waterfront yard-type in West Seattle is already at 60.

With many racers, it all depends on how it goes from here. For example, with 50 ANDREW EMLEN could be positioning for a shot at the Wahkiakum Co record of 86, if the winds bring more birds. So far Emlen has Northern Pygmy Owl, Saw-whet Owl, Ruffed Grouse, Western Bluebird, Black Throated Gray Warbler but no House Sparrow or Rock Pigeon!

Now that winter is waning, new entries are all the more WELCOME at the YARDBIRDRACE home office where we do a sailor?s jig (in private) whenever a new entry comes in over the info highway!!! Start counting now if you haven?t?with the migration still mostly ahead of us, and next fall to pick up the winter birds, you haven?t missed all that much!

To enter, email yardbirdrace at yahoo.com

To see the LEADERBOARD and rules, go to
http://www.ednewbold.com/yardbird.htm

By entering you?ll be helping extremely deserving institutions such as the magnificent WASHINGTON BIRDER magazine, BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL, AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY, your local AUDUBON SOCIETY, or you?ll be helping Violet Green Swallows if you choose a VG Swallow nest box as your participation prize (prizes awarded after completion of the year).


O?GRADY NATURAL AREA IN AUBURN

The O?Grady Natural Area in Auburn on the Green River was pleasant on Sunday. A large flock of EVENING GROSBEAK were foraging near the entrance, and a WARBLING VIREO was singing near there. There were Common Yellowthroats and Yellow Rumped Warblers singing. A flock of ROUGH WINGED SWALLOWS were foraging over the Green River, to the slight disappointment of Bobby & Curt Pearson, who had watched a colony of Bank Swallows there last year. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS & SPOTTED SANDPIPER were on the river, along with a Stunning Wood Duck catching full sun as it sped by us.


SWALLOW EXCITEMENT!

It?s great having historic-nest-sites of swallows. 8 or 10 Violet Green Swallows were partying over the our house on Beacon Hill today, perhaps working out just who would be in which box. A Barn Swallow pair is hanging out in front and gets more audible when I add water and mix the mud in the mudbath.

There looks like there?s going to be House Sparrow bulling again, as usual.

If anyone has Violet Green Swallows looking in vain for nest sites in their neighborhood, I?ll sell you a box and can send it priority mail Wednesday. You can email me at ednewbold1 at yahoo.com and get a $21.62 check in the mail to me, or send me a visa number in two or three different email passes. House Sparrow intrusion into this style of box (I knew this would happen sooner or later) has now been recorded, for what that?s worth.

I?d also like to encourage people to put out mud for Barn Swallows now that it?s suddenly hot and dry. I use a butyl scrap and dig up some clay soil and mix it up every day, to mimic the action of tide or river on mud. Mixing the mud is a lot of fun anyway and here?s a plus: the Robins?ll think you did it for them.

Thanks all, ednewbold1 at yahoo.com Beacon Hill Seattle





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