FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Peregrine/white throat/finch population DOWN/mocker

[Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx]

Happy Sunday,

As I returned westbound on I-40 from early church this morning, a peregrine 
falcon was close overhead in pursuit of a rock pigeon just at the sign posted 
for the White Bridge exit between 46th Street and White Bridge in West 
Nashville, Davidson County, around 8:30 AM.

At home in the Charlotte Park section of West Nashville, my first white 
throated sparrow, a lone scout, was feeding on my deck as I was eating lunch 
around 
11:30 AM.  

After having had around 60 house finches all summer, I've had NONE for three 
days making that the first time since my 1991 move here that I haven't had a 
few feeding.  Is anyone else experiencing a house finch loss?  

It seems that I must have had several bushels of grapes this summer ripen on 
my 90+ foot long grape "arbor" on the deck rails.  They were hanging from 
everywhere with vines almost reaching the ground from the deck above.  It was 
somewhat like the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon" in front of my carport where I 
had 
to drive the car through them to get in or out.  Also reminded me a bit of 
those doorways where some native New Orleaneans hang rows of Mardi Gras beads 
as 
curtains with all those ripening grapes of various shades being the beads.  
Now, the grapes are almost gone as are the ripe pokeberries (have a fresh green 
"crop" coming on) from a giant poke "tree" that grew beside the deck, SO the 
birds have returned to feed on "store bought food."  My bossy mockingbirds are 
back to peeping through the glass panes of the French doors to "demand" their 
peanut butter which is also gleefully shared by the titmice, wrens and 
chickadees.  Guess they will all keep me running to replenish the feeders 
throughout 
the winter.  Grape jelly and yellow cake are eagerly eaten by cardinals and 
others.  Dee's Smorgabird is going full steam again with "Immy" Coop (Cooper's 
hawk) and "Perry Grin" (peregrine falcon) apparently hanging around nearby to 
dine on Dee's diners!  I hope "Horny" & "Screech" (owls) return to control the 
mouse population at nights soon.

Best of birding to you all,

Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN