Both last year and this year, we've had an eastern meadowlark spend the entire winter in one of two tiny prairie plots behind the Visitor Center at The Arboretum in Lexington. It doesn't seem to be interested in the bird feeders but spends the entire time on the ground, hiding amongst the native grasses and eating whatever it can find on the ground. In the afternoons it often ventures out into the open lawn and basks in the sunlight. The bright yellow breast is so cheerful in the otherwise drab winter landscape. It's quite tame, too . maybe tame isn't the right word; it simply hides in plain sight until you are right next to it, and then it flies to the next prairie plot and waits for you to leave. Do meadowlarks typically stay around all winter in Kentucky? We see them in all of our prairie plots from time to time, but these little patches near the Visitor Center are guaranteed places to see this one. Roberta Burnes Fayette County ================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS============== The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign your messages with first & last name, city, & state abbreviation. -------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx -------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx