Wayne et al.,

But there were "Western Flycatchers" nesting (or at least males on
territory) ten years ago near the summit of Kamiak Butte.

Gene Hunn
18476 47th Pl NE
Lake Forest Park, WA
enhunn323 at comcast.net


----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Schonewald" <dschone8 at donobi.net>
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 9:31 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] re: 'Western' Flycatchers in Washtucna


> Tweets,
>
> While I agree with Wayne, with my somewhat limited experience, that
> 'Western' Flycatchers seem oriented to water, I must digress that this
> water
> must be in the form of streams. It appears to me that a lake will do as
> well
> as a stream. In my home state of Idaho it is not unusual to find 'Western'
> Flycatchers holding territory around lakes, streams, and ponds as long as
> the water source is not a seasonal one. This seems to be true of Red-eyed
> Vireo as well.
> With that said it is not surprising that eventually 'Western' Flycatchers
> and/or Red-eyed Vireo would attempt some nesting in Bassett Park in
> Washtucna. There is a stream that flows through the park. The stream is
> small, but it is not a seasonal habitat, but a year-round feature.
> I suspect as larger tracts of habitat slowly (or quickly, as the case may
> be) disappear that birds will begin to utilize marginal habitat for
> breeding
> attempts.
> Whether these breeding attempts are successful or not remains to be seen.
> Also, it remains to be seen if this behavior is a trend, or a one-time
> effort of lost or confused birds. A single data point does not make a
> trend
> for certain. However, one thing is certain. Most species will not maintain
> population levels on marginal habitat.
>
> Cheers
>
> Doug Schonewald
> Moses Lake, WA
> --
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