Steve, I too have noticed many more Dickcissels this year, here in south Logan Co. (SW of Hart). On a typical year I'd occasionally hear one or two of them singing along my morning running route. This year, I've heard MANY more and in different locations. I can't say that the local habitat has changed for the better though. With minor exceptions, our local farmers continue their onslaught on anything green that does not fit in with their clean monoculture crop management. Fence rows (if allowed to remain at all) are regularly cleaned out and farm-field sink holes, with their important brush and tree habitat, are bulldozed, filled in and planted. Field edge grasses are regularly mowed, which looks great and probably makes most of their neighbors happy...but would be more of a benefit to wildlife if left alone... Bobwhite numbers seem to be up around the house, where we've carefully managed for them. Our Blue Grosbeak and Grasshopper Sparrow numbers seem constant over the last several years, though I have noticed recently that a pair of Grosbeaks appear to be nesting in our dry-pond brush. S. Tyson, Schochoh, Logan Co. -----Original Message----- From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of sk Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 9:03 PM To: lindacraiger@xxxxxxxxxxx; birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [birdky] Re: Dickcissels & Kestrels I've been meaning for a while to add my 2 cents worth on dickcissels. I have always considered Hart County to be getting close to the eastern edge of their range, with 3 or 4 sightings here in a good year. This year there are hundreds. The population has exploded. Right now I'm curious to see if this is a permanent change or just a very odd year. Blue grosbeak numbers have risen dramatically the past few years, as well. There have been quite a few fields planted in native forbs and grasses recently. Is there a connection? Steve Kistler Hart Co -----Original Message----- From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of linda craiger Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 10:17 AM To: birdky Subject: [birdky] Dickcissels & Kestrels Great morning for Dickcissels (many) and Kestrels (4). Linda Craiger / Glasgow ================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 ================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 ================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