Hi all,

It's been interesting for me to read about the folks who are happy to see their first AMGO, signaling the onset of spring. Similarly, I have yet to have one show up in the backyard at home so I'm looking forward to that. However...in my uniquely productive birding environment at work, I have been literally mobbed with AMGO's all winter, thereby enhancing my 'reputation' as the crazy bird guy at the west end of the building. We moved into the building in October, and I had a couple of feeders up shortly thereafter. The AMGO's I had seen prior to our move-in apparently sensed a good thing and invited their extended families to spend the winter. This pleasantly chattering mob, usually scattered about in the tops of several alders for at least half the day, provides an outdoor version of elevator music to everyone who walks by during daylight hours. They show up reliably every morning, and come and go in various size groups during the day. In October, my peak count was 35!
in vie
w simultaneously. Over the winter, it grew to the point where one count yielded 87 individuals. (Maybe this is why no one else has seen them for a while - they're all over at my place, LOL!) I should be doing a photo essay of the various stages of molting, as the flock has individuals in every possible combination right now.

Over the last few weeks, a growing number of PINE SISKIN's (PISI) started to hang out with this crowd, and there have been a steady stream of other visitors as well. Just since moving in six months ago, the count in my extended 'yard' (counting the areas surrounding the business park, which include a number of other types of habitat) is now up to 61. March has been outstanding, with 45 species seen already - and still almost a week to go.

Nesting activity is starting, although nothing so far has opted for the several nest boxes I placed in the greenbelt over the winter. A pair of NORTHERN FLICKER's (NOFL) has completed excavating a snag tree nest hole in view of my office, and a PISI has been visiting my hanging ball of sheep's wool and flying off with large beaksful to some out of sight nest location.

Considering the large number of potential targets outside my window at any given time (or perhaps because of it) I have yet to see a successful Accipiter hunt. There is one regular adult COOPER'S HAWK (COHA) that shows up every couple of days, a juvenile COHA I've seen half a dozen times and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK adult that has been around twice. The adult COHA has tried a variety of tactics ranging from quietly hiding in thick brush waiting for a mistake by one of the birds to streaking, afterburners-on attack runs that appear out of nowhere from the side. My office neighbors all consider 'our' regular COHA a beautiful bird, but they seem to be about evenly split on whether they want to witness a successful attack or not.

So, next winter if anyone needs an AMGO fix, give me a call...!

John Tubbs
Snoqualmie, WA
johntubbs at comcast.net
www.tubbsphoto.com