Charles, Tweeters, and Inland Birders,



I am quite surprised to learn that "Western" Flycatchers are nesting in SE
Washington in urban areas and farmsteads away from the immediate vicinity of
streams. I've seen them in the town of Palouse, but only right next to the
Palouse River. In the southern interior of BC, although "Western"
Flycatchers are widespread and fairly common, I've seen no evidence that
they nest any distance away from a stream.



I agree that the birds in Washtucna are much too late for "late migrants",
so the logical assumption is that they are trying to breed there.



If, as you say, "Western" Flycatchers are breeding more and more often away
from streams, it would be only one of many changes in distribution and
nesting habitat of birds in the Columbia Basin in the last 50 years, in
response to the vast changes in habitat resulting from the Columbia Basin
Project

(i.e., irrigation from Lake Roosevelt). The recent advent of American Crows
and Bewick's Wrens as breeding species in the area are two other examples.
Even though some of these changes are fairly recent, I suspect that they may
be a delayed reaction to habitat changes that began in the 1950s.



As for Red-eyed Vireos-- this is another species that I've never seen
attempting to breed outside of riparian areas, so if they are, it must be a
very recent change. Warbling Vireos are much more likely to nest in urban
areas away from streams (e.g. in tall Lombardy poplars in Penticton, BC,
where I began birding many years ago).





Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus at telus.net







From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Charles
Swift
Sent: June-18-07 9:24 AM
To: inland birders; Tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] Re: [inland-NW-birders]Okanogan Co. birding trip June
13th-17th



Ruth, Patrick -

It is highly likely that the WESTERN FLYCATCHERS observed at Bassett Park in
Washtucna are nesting at that location rather than late migrants. This is
very typical habitat for WEFL in the Palouse region. They like the shade
trees found in many towns and will nest on structures such as sheds etc.
They can be found in Moscow, Palouse, Colfax, probably Pullman, and likely
other Palouse area towns. I've even found them on fairly small, isolated
homesteads/farm houses w/ shade trees. It's even possible that the RED-EYED
VIREOS are trying to nest here. They nest here in Moscow in residential
areas w/ deciduous shade trees.

thanks, Charles.

On 6/17/07, Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan <godwit513 at msn.com> wrote:

Hello Birders,







Bassett Park at Washtucna,Adams Co.



4 Wild Turkeys

2 FERRUGINOUS HAWKS(observed separately from hillsides above Bassett Park)

2 Swainson's Hawk

2 Barn Owls

4 Eurasian Collared Doves

3 Willow Flycatchers

1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER(late date for location)

2 PACIFIC-SLOPE"WESTERN"FLYCATCHERS(late date for location)

2 Bewick's Wren




--
Charles Swift
Moscow, ID
chaetura at gmail.com <mailto:chaetura at gmail.com>