Dennis and Tweeters,

The large numbers of Western Tanagers that you and others have been
reporting in the sagebrush are almost certainly late migrants. Although most
of the tanager migration in our area occurs during May, it can continue well
into June in some years like this one when migration is delayed. In southern
Idaho, there have been reports of unprecedented numbers of tanagers out in
the sagebrush in the last few days all the way from Boise almost to the
eastern border of the state. One observer reported at least 200 tanagers
along a highway near Blackfoot, ID, including birds perched on fence lines.
Anyone interested in this can read recent reports on the IBLE e-mail group
(Idaho Birders Linked Electronically).

I observed a similar phenomenon in 1975 near Bozeman, Montana, while
attending an ornithological meeting. On a field trip near Bozeman on about
June 15th, we saw dozens of tanagers moving through the sagebrush, in a
location where they would never be seen in the breeding season. 1975 was the
latest spring I can remember in the Northwest, with many other species still
migrating on June 10th or later, but this year is also very late because of
the persistent stormy weather which has been unfavorable for migration.

Many birders do not appreciate how abundant Western Tanagers are east of the
Cascades. From central British Columbia south well into California, Arizona,
and New Mexico, they are often one of the 5 most abundant species in
ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forests, which cover many thousands of square
miles over this vast area.
I can attest to this at least from B.C., where I regularly record from 25 to
40 Western Tanagers on each of 2 BBS routes I run that go through good
habitat. However, they are often not easy to see in the forest, and stay in
the treetops. In the infrequent years when bad weather causes huge numbers
to show up in lowland cities or in the sagebrush, birders marvel at their
numbers, and wonder where they all came from. The fact is that their numbers
are like that every year, but in springs when the weather is good, not many
are seen in the lowlands.

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net



-----Original Message-----
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis
Paulson
Sent: June-05-10 6:25 PM
To: TWEETERS
Subject: [Tweeters] Western Tanager bonanza (again)

Netta and I spent today in the Umtanum and Wenas Creek valleys. Western
Tanagers were everywhere, easily the most abundant bird in wooded or
semiwooded habitats, and a fair number right out in the sagebrush. At one
point there were about 10 of them feeding in alders in front of me along
Umtanum Creek. Many of them flew up the creek in small groups, then later I
saw a similar flight down the creek!

Recall they were similarly abundant east of the Cascades in southern Oregon
last weekend. I am assuming these are birds that have dropped downhill
because conditions are suboptimal for them up in the mountains. Either that
or they are a spectacularly late migrant, and I didn't think that was the
case. Along Umtanum Creek we saw a Yellow-rumped and a Townsend's Warbler,
and neither of them breed there, also a Wilson's Warbler in another spot
where I know they don't breed. So these are either still heading north to BC
and/or Alaska on June 5 or are intending to go (back?) up into the mountains
as the weather improves there. It was quite a surprise to see so many
tanagers.

Western Tanagers are surely among our most common birds - nice to be able to
say that about such a beauty.
-----
Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115
206-528-1382
dennispaulson at comcast.net



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