I was at Blue Mash last Friday.  I missed the Black-billed Cuckoo, but I
ran into a couple who said they had seen 2 at day break.  Most
interesting was that they said that one (presumably a male) was on top
of the other (presumably a female) and that the female was holding the
male's bill in her own.  If this wasn't copulation it was at least some
serious bonding, so I wonder if there is a possibility that they are
thinking of breeding in the area.  I know that there are records for
most/all of the piedmont counties.  I don't know if Cuckoos regularly
engage in behavior like this away from the breeding ground.  How likely
is this?

If it is a possibility then we will want to be particularly careful not
to disturb the birds.  

Tom 
Laurel, Maryland

Tom Feild/599
GOES N-P Mission Systems Engineer
301.286.6686