On Thu, 2007-06-07 at 13:22 -0400, Thomas H Beal wrote:
> Since 6 am this morning, a Scarlet Tanager and Pewee have been singing  
> constantly (I mean constantly) in my backyard. I saw/heard both of them in  late 
> April and early May, but not since then.  Isn't it late to be setting  up a 
> territory?  Haven't been able to see either, could immature males been  singing 
> already?  

Tom,

June 3-4 brought to my yard the first Acadian Flycatcher of the year and
a Scarlet Tanager, which hadn't been here for about a month.  Both seem
late and they were coincident with the passage of the tropical storm.  A
summer or two ago, the first Wood Thrush I heard here started singing
the morning after an early July thunderstorm.

I don't keep very good records but had assumed these birds are failed
nesters and suspect yours are also.  Perhaps a storm.  Perhaps
predation.  Perhaps the tree they were nesting in was chopped down.  For
whatever reason, the bird decides the territory he chose is not suitable
and a mid-summer move is required.

Anyone have any evidence or other hypotheses?

Dave
-- 
David Mozurkewich
Seabrook, PG MD
mozurk at bell atlantic dot net