On Thu, 2005-01-27 at 02:46, Frank Boyle wrote:

> I've noticed the conspicuous absence of any sightings on the list of Tree
> sparrows - we've had them here in Rohrersville for about two weeks now.  We
> also have regular White Crowned sparrows here that seem absent elsewhere.
> 
> Is it just me or do we have them here because of our proximity to the
> mountains?

Frank,

Although neither is common here, I have see American Tree and
White-Crowned Sparrows all over Prince George's county, well away from
the mountains.  The mountains are not the key, you just have a patch of
habitat that meets their requirements.

I USED TO THINK that where they are not common, the occurrence of both
species was well correlated with multi-flora rose.  That is wrong, or at
least that's not the case here; for the last couple of years my Tree
Sparrows have been in shrubs along the edges of sparrow-laden fields but
the majority of habitat that matches that description lacks the
sparrows; there is something about their preferences I don't
understand.  Can anyone enlighten me?

Dave
-- 
David Mozurkewich
Seabrook, PG, MD
mozurk (at) bell Atlantic. net