A couple of firsts for us around Alki Point. We've only seen American
Goldfinches on two occasions in the past, each time a solo individual in
spring migration, until yesterday, when I heard a vaguely familiar bird
song. As I listened and looked, a pair of Goldfinches flew up out of the
neighbor's grasses and shrubs into a tree in our yard - at just about the
same moment as, from another direction, a male and two female Brown-headed
Cowbirds flew in and landed on a utility wire. An odd sensation, at once
being elated at seeing what might be the precursor activity to Goldfinches
breeding in the vicinity and then feeling my heart sink at the prospect of
Cowbirds moving in, too.



I suppose this wouldn't be shocking around here, but has anyone else seen
Cowbirds around West Seattle?



The Goldfinches were singing again today. And not that my random
observations mean these two species would interact in our little world right
here, but I was heartened to read on BNA that Cowbirds hatched in Goldfinch
nests usually perish, so.



Happy birding to you all.



--g



Gary T. Smith

Alki Point