My yard has been one of the winter color-banding sites used by The Puget Sound Bird Observatory (PSBO).

Every year I have returning winter-foraging Oregon Juncos (ORJU), the majority of which seem to be distance males (as determined by longer wing cord measurements).

Sunday, mid-morning, for about a 45 minute period, I watched as six color-banded ORJU's ravaged my feeders. They acted as if they had just arrived and were famished. Indeed, this was the first time I had seen them this fall, so I am assuming that they came in after the storm.

My neighbor reported seeing two male Ruby-crowned Kinglets a little later in the day--the first time ever for her yard.


Christine Southwick
N Seattle/Shoreline
clsouthwick at q.com