Hello everyone, it's been a while since I last posted.
 
   Some exciting things have been occuring around my house lately.
   I've been having fun seeing all the new additions to our avian family in 
my yard. Young Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, Blue Jays, and House 
Wrens...And a few days ago I saw a fledgling Red-bellied Woodpecker with 
its father (whom I've named Irving). This is the first young Red-bellied 
I've seen in the 12 years I've been at this house. It was very exciting to 
think that Irving and Isabella (whose the female), long time habitants of 
the area around our house, finally had a child! 
   Also, we set up a hummimgbird feeder yesterday and this morning I saw a 
male ruby-throated flying around outside. No where near the feeder 
though...is it possible that he was a scout? Or maybe he didn't go to the 
feeder because it's to close to a bird house. Do they have to be a certain 
distance apart?
   I have one other question. When you find a bird who has been banded, are 
you supposed to report it to anyone special? Because today I saw a Blue Jay 
with at least three bands - it had a red band above the knee and a white 
band below the knee on the right leg and red band below the knee and 
possibly a blue band above the knee (but it just might have been a glare 
from the sun) on the left leg. It was the first time I've seen a banded 
bird in my yard. Pretty cool.



     Gone Birding...
         Gema Crystal
         
         Rockville, MD