Tweeters,

The two RED-TAILED HAWKS nestlings at the nest near our property corner
fledged late afternoon on May 30. Both took "tentative"
hop-flutter-to-the-next-branch flights, with one fledgling making it over to
another tree. Even though they're both trying to fly, the flights are mainly
from one tree to another. They're sticking close to the nest at night,
though. The RTHA female starting sitting on the eggs on or maybe even just
before March 5.



On Wednesday, I came back from a trip to Cle Elum, having been gone two
days, and found that House Sparrows had blocked the WESTERN BLUEBIRDS from
feeding the chicks at their nestbox. I opened the box to find 5 dead
nestlings. The WEBL parents weren't in the area for a couple of days, but
came back on Friday, attempted to go to the box, but a House Sparrow
prevented that. I switched out the box to one for Tree or Violet-green
Swallows, and moved the bluebird box to another area at the back of our
house at the edge of some noble firs. (This is about a 280yd move, and
completely out of sight from the front of the house.) Today, the bluebirds
were sitting on their old box at the new site. If they attempt to renest
there, I'll at least be able to monitor it a bit better to keep out the
HOSP. (Update: The female WEBL is carrying nesting material to the box and
the male is definding it against Tree Swallows as I write this.) Note: I
froze the five WEBL nestlings and will donate them to either the Slater
Museum or the Burke when I get the opportunity.



I've seen some interesting interactions regarding the pair of CALIFORNIA
QUAIL that are in our yard. One day, the male twice charged a Steller's Jay
that was nearby feeding on the ground. The first time, the jay hopped-flew a
few feet away; and the second time took off. Two days later, the quail were
feeding in front of some blackberries when a flock of BAND-TAILED PIGEONs
came in to feed near them. Both quail charged the pigeons several times,
causing the flock to lift up twice and flutter away. The pigeons finally
won, though, and came in to stay.



I've stopped putting out feed for the last week, and the flock of up to 50
BAND-TAILED PIGEONs have reduced down to about 10 or so daily visitors. I've
not seen this many BTPI anywhere in the vicinity of Roy, and only
periodically see a few of this species at Fort Lewis, which at least has the
nesting habitat choice for these birds. I guess the pigeons saw easy
pickin's at Avian Acres.



CALIFORNIA QUAIL chicks hatched a week ago, but I haven't seen the dozen or
so of them since Sunday, May 25, even though the parent birds have been
around every day.



KILLDEER are attempting to nest again after the failure (predation) of the
first nest in April. I found the scrape with four eggs in it about 40 yards
from the bluebird box at the front of the house. The next is about 6 feet
from the fenceline, and is in the hunting territory of a feral cat that
lives in the barn across the road. It's going to be a tough go for this
plover, but I hope it's a successful nesting.



On other news, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEEs, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and a WILLOW
FLYCATCHER all arrived last week. Together with the WESTERN TANAGER that
came in the week before, these annual arrivals brought the total for the
year up to 87 spp.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com