searching for y-thr. vireo + Q: do birds eat walnuts?

Robert Weiner (rweiner@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu)
Sun, 14 Jun 1998 08:08:16 -0400 (EDT)


ospreyers:

2 questions:

I moved to the area from Boston about 3 yrs ago and've tracked down many
of the local birds that I was never able to locate in New England.  One
continuing miss is yellow-throated vireo; a Wild-bird-Center trip to Great
Falls VA yesterday produced resonable variety and numbers of species (at
least a half-dozen parulas singing on territory plus cedar waxwings at and
in the nest), but no sign of vireos (except red-eyed). 

any suggestions for places where they are breeding, hopefully not too far
from DC?

Second question.  Our backyard in NW DC has an old walnut tree, which at
this time of year rains down small green nuts on everything (and
everybody).  Before I sweep them up and pitch them or mulch-pile them, it
occurred to me that they might provide a form of bird food.  Any thoughts
on this?  do they feed anything besides our already well-fed squirrels?
speaking of well-fed, are they edible by humans?

thanks for your advice, and enjoy our loon . . . 

Robert Weiner (rweiner@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu)
George Washington University
Washington DC 20052
202 994 5981