[obol] Re: A day to Swallow
- From: BILL ROSIE TICE <watice@xxxxxxx>
- To: OBOL <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 24 May 2013 18:35:53 +0000
Thanks to all for your comments: I would have assumed that Martins were pretty
much done migrating by now, since usually the first ones appear in the state by
mid-April, and we are now toward end of May. The location where this flock
was, was at least 10 miles from the nearest breeding location, which would be
near Falls City. Into the coast range beyond Falls City there are a few
scattered snags where they have been known to breed, but I seriously doubt that
a survey of ALL these would tally 40 birds. (Eric Horvath may need to weigh
in on that figure since he did a survery some 10-12 years ago or so). It seems
that normally they would be at their nest sights at the present time? At FRR,
it would seem more obvious that there could be a good number congregated since
they breed there.
So my question (to Wayne and others) is, if they were not still migrating, what
were they doing? I would agree that, with what appears (ed?) to be an early
spring, more birds of most species may have shown earlier than usual, which
would seem to complicate the info. If they were still looking for snags in
the Coast Range, and got deterred by the inclement weather, why would they
flock up and head into the valley where they don't nest anyway? If they were
not migrants, another explanation seems difficult to come by.
It all makes for an interesting discussion.
Bill Tice: Birding - The best excuse for getting outdoors, and avoiding chores.
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