Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 04:33:43 -0700 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Sue Hamilton Subject: Fwd: La. Waterthrushes MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I found this response most interesting so am forwarding to the list. --- Birdconsv@aol.com wrote: (in part) I read your post on MD-Osprey, .. offer my own > observations that this species is > declining in our region. I own property in far > northwestern Virginia and have kept > track of birds in our little mountain valley for > over 20 years. > Waterthrushes used to nest along along our stream; > it seemed as if there was a pair every > quarter mile or so, but they have dropped steadily > over the last decade. This > year I do not believe that any are nesting in the > roughly 1-2 mile stretch of > the creek that I frequent most often. There were a > few in the spring, but > they don't appear to have stayed. I agree with you > that even if their singing > falls off in summer, their distinctive alarm call is > still heard often. > > Theories for their decline include loss of mature > forest and declines in > water quality (such as acidification) which affects > their prey--insects and > snails. > or migration may also be factors. > > The Cornell Lab is interested in their status and > the US EPA has supported > some work through their research program aimed at > using this species as a water > quality indicator in the mountains of the > mid-Atlantic region. > > I hope you find this helpful. > > Dave Davis > Arlington, Virginia > __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? SBC Yahoo! DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc.yahoo.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================