Subject: [Tweeters] Vashon Vesper Sparrow
Date: Sep 4 20:38:13 2014
From: Ed Swan - edswan at centurytel.net


Harsi Parker found a Vesper Sparrow at her place on central Vashon Island
this evening. This is the first record in roughly 30 years. Back in the
1940's, Larrison lists them as commonly found on Vashon but there have only
been some fall sightings of single birds from sometime in the 1980's in more
recent times. Extensive habitat change consisting of reforestation of farm,
field and shrubby thicket area occurred over the last 70-80 years cutting
down on their potential habitat.



Interestingly, Vashon had two breeding pairs of Chipping Sparrows with
broods nearby to the Vesper Sparrow sighting this spring, the first recorded
breeding, though presumably they bred earlier in the 20th Century. Two sets
of good observers (including Harsi and Ezra) have recently started birding
this area of Vashon a lot, perhaps these sightings are remnants of earlier
populations that just weren't noticed until now.



Ed Swan

Nature writer and guide

Check out the new The Birds of Vashon Island at

www.theswancompany.com <http://www.theswancompany.com>

edswan at centurytel.net <mailto:edswan at centurytel.net>

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