FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Fox sparrows, et al

[StephenDEccles@xxxxxxx]

The 'flood' of Fox Sparrows has spread to my local patch -- suburban NVa, 
between Annandale and Fairfax. I have had only one Fox Sparrow resident for 
the whole winter; and another one appeared a month ago, about a quarter of a 
mile to its south. Both of these birds were refound this morning. Amazingly, 
there was also a group of at least 4 birds between these two 'old' birds. And 
a seventh was found a further quarter mile south of the most southern of the 
'old' birds. I have never found more than 2 Fox Sparrows here before. 
Location: a powerline easement adjacent to Wakefield park.

Some parts of this area are breeding spots for Red-winged Blackbirds. One 
suitable area to the south always has a small group of females throughout the 
winter, but never any males. (The only time I ever see any winter males is 
every few years or so when we are visited by a mixed group of blackbirds.) 
Another suitable breeding area to the north never seems to have any winter 
residents, male or female. This morning, the northern area had 2 males, 
energetically competing with each other, but no sign of any females; while 
the southern area had its winter females, but no males. I am thinking of 
starting a dating service!

Every time I go by last year's Red-shouldered Hawk nest, it is a bit more 
built up than the last time. But I have not seen any birds around the nest 
site at all. I am not sure what is going on.

Stephen Eccles



You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.