Bobolinks no longer have a home in Clarke Co. where I found them 2 weeks ago. I
stopped by the spot where there were 8 birds on June
23, but found that the field had been mowed - perhaps a week or so ago. The
only birds around, in spite of the heat, were a few
Meadowlarks that also seemed lost and homeless.
Now, I'm not one to harp on the subject of landowner rights, because I
absolutely believe that any farmer or enterprise has a right
to do with their land whatever they want, or make money off of it as they see
fit. However, I also am one who laments the
destruction of habitat that not only attracts, but supports populations of
not-so-common birds, beasts, or other wildlife. The
habitat was simply a horse pasture and could easily have been left alone.
That being said, I now merely wish that the right people had been contacted in
advance so as to avoid this outcome. I am no
politician, but maybe in the future, something might be done to prevent a
situation like this, and particularly when it involves a
species that is somewhat unusual around here. In spite of what I didn't find,
maybe the birds really are still there, although I
doubt it.
Time to step off the soapbox, but at least otherwise, I had a good day birding
(it also was a good day for cooking - skin, that is).
I found a spot in SW Loudoun Co. where there were at least 11 Grasshopper
Sparrows as well as a Red-headed WP nest - total RHWO's
for the day were 5 - always a most enjoyable species for me. Added to our list
of 16 RHWO in northern Fauquier Co. last Sunday, plus
the large population at Sky Meadows SP, these birds are doing quite well in
this part of the state.
In spite of the blistering heat, at 3PM I heard a GHOW calling a few times
(perhaps 2 birds answering each other), but by then,
almost every bird I saw was panting! Weren't you??
Jon Little
Winchester
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