I live in Shoreline, and I have juncos all year long. In fact, I have a "new to my yard "(unbanded) male displaying--spreading his tail feathers, flashing those bright white R5 and R6's. I have up to four males who return every year (color-banded in my yard), and at least two returning females (maybe more--they are harder to see).

Now, an interesting thing. I used to live 28 blocks further south in northern Seattle (NE 135 and 22 Ave NE), and I only had juncos from October to March, ever--in 12 years. When I first moved to Shoreline, that spring I heard a bird I didn't recognize, singing territory. I went looking for him, and when I found that it was an Oregon Junco, I was amazed. I don't know if it is the habitat, or the location, or both. But I consider myself lucky that I no longer have the withdrawal pains that Dennis still experiences.

[Now where the adults go in August? Molting maybe, and hiding? Don't know, but at least the juvies are still in my yard].

Christine Southwick
N Seattle/Shoreline
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

On Fri, 30 Mar 2012, Dennis Paulson wrote:

> Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:11:55 -0700
> From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson at comcast.net>
> To: TWEETERS tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
> Subject: [Tweeters] don't depend on juncos!
>
> At least not for your happiness. Our yard has been literally hopping all winter with juncos. They're in the lawn, they're in the bushes, they're in the trees, they're in the feeders, they're even in the air, at least for short periods. Now they are gone, and the yard seems like a tomb. There is still at least one pair of them, and they may be the birds that intend to breed in the neighborhood, but there were 25-30 most of the winter, and they filled the yard with activity more often than not. Chipping, chasing, and chomping down, they brought a flurry of activity every time they were in the yard, and that was quite often. The change from a few days ago is palpable.
>
> There are still chickadees and nuthatches and jays and flickers and robins and siskins and various other avian delights, and there's a Townsend's Warbler at the suet, but I hadn't realized how much those juncos contributed until now, when they're gone.
>
> Dennis
> -----
> Dennis Paulson
> 1724 NE 98 St.
> Seattle, WA 98115
> 206-528-1382
> dennispaulson at comcast.net
>
>
>
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