Fred,
 Though I don't see this now as often as I used to when I lived in Ashton, I believe it is an association based on food availability.This time of year when both birds are around in good numbers, the shared food supply is just beginning to get scarce. In my yard now I have the last remains of the years wild grapes and Virginia Creeper berries, both foods of preference which I find them both eating. In Ashton, they would also congregate at the poison ivy berries (I don't have that much here). I have also seen lots of Cedar Waxwings around with the local bluebirds, eating pretty much the same things, though they also eat a lot of Bradford Pears now.

Rick Sussman
Woodbine (Virginia Creeper), MD


the apparent co-mingling of E. BLUEBIRDS 
nd YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. A large elm in the neighbors yards held a small 
roup of bluebirds, and in the same tree were the warblers. As the bluebirds 
lew to other sites, the warblers followed. Then, on to another location, 
arblers in tow. This is not the first time I've seen this behavior...anyone 
now of this or witness this symbiosis? 
Fred Burggraf




-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Burggraf <>
To: 
Sent: Tue, Nov 10, 2009 4:49 pm
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Hermits, Blues & Rumps



My woods have filled up with HERMIT THRUSHES of late...each day I hear a chorus 
f clucks and chucks from most quarters of my property. Is this the case 
tatewide? (I'm here in SE Charles Co.) 
Yesterday was quite birdy in my neighborhood, with hosts of ROBINS and CEDAR 
AXWINGS. I also noticed a "partnership" that I've seen before but that I don't 
ecall ever being discussed on Osprey: the apparent co-mingling of E. BLUEBIRDS 
nd YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. A large elm in the neighbors yards held a small 
roup of bluebirds, and in the same tree were the warblers. As the bluebirds 
lew to other sites, the warblers followed. Then, on to another location, 
arblers in tow. This is not the first time I've seen this behavior...anyone 
now of this or witness this symbiosis? 
Fred Burggraf
entsville, MD