Well, my "MIA" list, at least for this season, includes Baltimore Orioles. They have nested in our cherry trees along the edge of the property for the past 2 years. They were here in good numbers when they first arrived back this spring, but alas, no nests. I have been seeing a male or two the past few days in the late afternoons. I really miss them. Last year they were picking string for their nests from the pea towers in the vegetable garden. Consolation prizes include nesting Song Sparrows, Mockers, and maybe a Gray Catbird. Also we have a full clutch of 5 eggs in one of our Bluebird boxes (again), as well as nesting Tree Swallows in another box. 

Miss the late evening singing of the Wood Thrush too.

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD






-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Mumford <>
To: 
Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2010 4:30 pm
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Missing Wood Thrushes


I have lived in a largish woods off Seneca Road for eighteen years.   
uring that time, the deer have thoroughly eaten out the understory as Paul  
'Brien has observed.  Missing from the woods since my first spring here in  
992:

       Blue-grey  Gnatcatchers
       Kentucky Warblers
       Ovenbird
       Red-eyed Vireos
       Scarlet Tanagers
       Louisiana  Waterthrushes
       Acadian Flycatchers
       Eastern Wood Pewee


ome of the above birds are canopy birds, so their absence makes no sense  
o me.  But gone they are, for whatever reason.
 
n addition, I have heard the Wood Thrushes only occasionally this  spring. 
I think they are nesting nearby, but there used to be a chorus of  them 
aily, with multiple breeders.  I used to see the other thrushes as  they 
igrated through.  This year: none, other than robins.

ast winter's snowmageddon wiped out the Carolinas too.  They were  doing 
K with my suet until I took a trip at the tail end of the time snow was  
eep and that apparently finished them off.  In this case, they ought to  soon 
e back, because they survived along the canal not far away.

ob Mumford
arnestown