Kelly Cassidy wrote "Dennis suggested that the birds don't have
insects to eat, but I'm not sure that's completely true."

I agree entirely, Kelly. I should have been more explicit. I meant
they had essentially no insects out and about once it gets cold.
There are plenty of overwintering insects in various stages (adults,
pupae, larvae, eggs), including under the leaves, as you said, that
are available, and lots of insectivorous birds around in the winter,
as long as they have ways of getting at those hidden insects. But
notice the flycatchers and swallows are gone (no flying insects) and
the warblers and vireos are gone (no exposed insects). There are a
few of each of those types of insects, but apparently not enough to
make it profitable for those types of birds to winter in this area
normally.

Thanks for the rundown on the phenology of your local fruits. There
have been some research projects in the East showing how bird
distribution and abundance relates to this in native species.
-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson at comcast.net



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