Subject: [Tweeters] The Messenger
Date: Jul 10 12:44:29 2016
From: Teresa Michelsen - teresa at avocetconsulting.com
I used to hear them all the time in my (2-acre with a ravine) yard in
Kenmore - early 2000s. Then I noticed they were dwindling. Later I never had
them, and noticed a number of other of the birds I had in the early years
were gone too. The next time I heard/saw one was in Panama. Having just
moved to Snoqualmie, I have heard one this year so far. Just one.
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Jeff Gibson
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2016 10:25 AM
To: tweeters
Subject: [Tweeters] The Messenger
Here in my neck of Port Townsend, I'm still getting a good message from a
neighborhood Olive-sided Flycatcher in the morning, with it's loud "quick -
three- beers " call. The not so great message is when you don't hear
anything, as Tweeters have recently pointed out.
Maybe some of your neighborhood Olive-sided's have moved on to daily
six-packs of beers, being depressed (and desperate) about lack of winter
habitat and/or the poisoning of their insect food supplies. When the fat
flycatcher stops singing, I guess that opera is over. But not quite yet.
It's sad, and increasingly obvious to long time nature observers to witness
the loss of natural diversity. When the birds stop singing, you could be
next. It's a dichotomous world we are now living in - more information
about nature and more ignorance at the same time.
I have a subscription to Netflix online, and just recently noted that they
are streaming "The Messenger", the excellent documentary about the plights
of migratory songbirds around the world that came out this spring. The
"messenger" being the "canary in the coal mine" - the message being singing
or silence. The movie is saved from being totally depressing by the many
stories from people (scientists and others) who are actually bringing some
light to the situation, and doing something about it, as they can.
While the message is somewhat a downer sometimes ,yet our world is still
incredibly rich with life, which I continue to enjoy and share, and help as
I can, before i do the last croak myself.
Jeff Gibson
still croaking in
Port Townsend Wa