Oh sure, you can subscribe to Cornell and all them other sites, but our local Seattle Audubon's Birdweb really delivers.

Just last week I was looking up info on our 'winter warblers' as I'd seen a beautiful Orange- Crowned Warbler here in Everett and was boning up on some of the others we see here in winter.

I was checking out Birdweb's info on Townsends Warbler when I noticed a movement outside the office window here at my home in north Everett. Looking out the window at my only bird feeder I was amazed to see a bright male Townsend's Warbler ! The first one I've seen here in our eight years at the place.

Townsend's Warbler is a creature that I've previously associated with neck pain, as they're usually way up in a tall conifer. How wonderfull to see at eye level ! He was hanging around the feeder for quite a while, feeding on , I presume, cracked sunflower seed in my bird mix - the only thing small enough for them to eat. (Bushtits also eat that here). Then he swooped over to my windowsill and gobbled down a big fat bluebottle fly that, until that point, had also been enjoying the wee bit of February sunshine on the south side of my house.

So I give Birdweb full credit for delivering a Townsend's Warbler to my home.

Seriously folks, Birdweb is a great basic resource for info on our local birds, with with good detailed maps and more and more recordings of song and calls. I also enjoy checking out the Bent Life Histories on Birdzilla, which is free. Though 'dated' the information is very detailed , and it is interesting to hear about what 'was' as compared to what 'is' - everything being subject to change. And some things don't change too much or too fast.


Jeff Gibson
Everett Wa























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