Tweeters,

Since returning home from my last business trip two days ago, I've seen
many signs of spring migration at the house in Battle Ground.
Yesterday, there was a single Lincoln's Sparrow on the back deck, a
Common Yellowthroat was chipping in the open spce beyond, several Red
Crossbills flew over (I guess on their routes between the remaining few
Douglas Furs in the neighborhood), and a single Merlin flew over
yesterday evening. This morning, a Greater Yellowlegs and a Killdeer
were in the pond that held last spring's Solitary Sandpiper and a single
Osprey flew over. Several Yellow-rumped Warblers and a female Rufous
Hummingbird also whizzed through the yard. While I write this, the
Lincoln's Sparrow has been joined by a male Golden-crowned Sparrow on
the back deck (the first since late February). A short walk through the
neighborhood yielded many Savannah Sparrows in the open spaces and
several Cliff Swallows overhead although I haven't seen either from the
house yet this year.

On the departure side, I have only two Dark-eyed Juncos left and about 6
siskins and 6 American Goldfinches (a relief since they were going
through bucket loads of seed). The Cackling and Canada Goose flock is
decreasing almost daily.

One mystery I have yet to resolve is the calling Northern Bobwhite in
the area somewhere. I don't know whether it's a caged bird or "wild"
but it was calling from a completely different direction today which has
me interested enough to want to see it. Are there remnant escaped
populations of Northern Bobwhite in Clark County?

Get Out There and Bird!

Jim Danzenbaker | Naturalist Manager
Brunton

Battle Ground, WA
Clark County
360-723-0345