So much for Baltimore Oriole's preference for walnut or sycamore 
trees.  I found one Baltimore Oriole nest in a gingko tree.  I had put out 
long strands of horse mane/tail and strips of 1/4 inch ribbon of different 
colors for possible use by the Baltimore Orioles.  Horsehair is the clear 
winner, at least in the nest that I have found.  Several strips of light 
colored ribbon are in the windings of the nest, but no red or green or 
blue ribbon.

  The black mulberry tree by the house has attracted up to 20 cedar 
waxwings at a time and numerous robins.  The fruit is not ripe enough for 
my taste, but the birds must be finding something.  

  After a lull lasting a couple of weeks, the cardinal is back attacking 
the window.  I have strips of 1/4 inch ribbon of various colors and 
several strips of 2 inch red ribbon from the top of the window in an 
attempt to break up any reflection.  (A female Baltimore Oriole even 
visited trying to take some of the ribbon.)  I pruned back any branches 
within 10 feet of the window.  I taped paper on the inside of the window 
in a couple of spots that he appeared to favor.  He still attacks that 
nasty cardinal in the window that just will not go away.  He finds a 
perch, flies at the window, returns to perch, repeat 5 or 6 times ... fly 
away after a real cardinal ... stop for a seed or two at the feeder that 
is 25 feet away from the window ... fly at the window from the feeder!  I 
can't see my own reflection from 25 feet away, but I guess he has done it 
so often that he just knows that that bird is there.  How many more weeks 
until the testosterone levels in male cardinals begins to drop?

There is a good article in today's New York Times Science section bout 
establishing a Wildlife Corridor from Yellowstone to the Yukon (Y2Y).  I 
forwarded it to the young ladies in Centreville who did the bird study on 
forest fragmentation.

Jim Wilson
Queenstown