Hi Folks,

I don't think Elaine and I have stayed home on a Saturday since landscaping
our yard last summer, but this morning's layer of sleet on the ground
prompted us to go no further than the end of the driveway till late
afternoon.  The day was anything but boring, though, as the bird activity in
the yard was non-stop.  We tallied 30 species in our suburban acre in
Ferndale (AA Co.), our highest ever for a March day.  The highlight was an
EASTERN PHOEBE, our first ever Winter/Spring yard record.  Sparrows were a
delight with three CHIPPIES (which arrived yesterday) and two FOX (here for
the 4th day in a row).  One of the Fox Sparrows is a real porker, scratching
and eating feverishly all day; it is the fattest looking sparrow I've ever
seen.  Today's four Song Sparrows tied an all time high for the yard, and
yesterday's 90 juncos was a yard high-count.  We also had our best raptor
turnout, with one of our resident COOPER'S HAWKs dropping in twice today
(but taking no MoDos, their favorite delicacy), and a yard-high TWO
RED-SHOULDERED HAWKs perched simultaneously in our trees, but only for a
short time before being escorted away by our nesting crows.  An attractive
adult RED-TAILED HAWK circled gracefully over the yard in the early
afternoon, following an earlier low approach by a Turkey Vulture.

The crows have been fun to watch, as they sneak in and out of their nesting
area, carrying nest-building material during the ingress.  They are building
about 50 or 60 feet up in one of our pine trees, of course where the foliage
is the thickest, and where visibility from the ground is nil.  It appears
that four members of the family are all taking part in the nest
construction.  Crows are noted for having help in raising young from older
siblings, and sometimes these young birds continue to help their parents
well into their own adulthoods.

So, there is some joy to be had with the awful weather, but I'm more than
ready for some warmth that stays a while.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie