Sad to say, the Painted Bunting that appeared at our feeder y'day has not
returned, and since this is later than the hour he was last seen y'day, and
between Jane and me we've had the feeders under almost constant surveillance
since, it seems likely he has moved on - despite the usual habit of its kind in
sticking around at a wintering site for weeks. Nor has the Cape May been seen
again.
I will post here immediately if the bird returns, so that other birders may have
a chance at it. Meanwhile a picture on Flickr will have to do.
Even in disappointment we can ask some useful questions - where was he before he
showed up here? where has he gone? And why? What was there here not to like?
Okay, the Cooper's - but besides that? Passerines know how to avoid raptors. Or
are PABU's more intolerant of accip's on account of their (the PABU's) greater
conspicuousness?
Many more birds here today in anticipation of the snow. A flock of 24 cowbirds
suddenly descended and scarfed up all the platform seeds - then were gone as
suddenly. Also, ~ 50 juncos, 20 goldfinces, and the usual residents, all the
chickadees of which still being of the Carolina species.
Y'day a junco came onto the kitchen window ledge and tapped, as if for food. But
we had not put out any seed there since last winter. This lends further supprt
to the growing evidence that migrants return to very specific wintering sites.
Fred Fallon
Huntingtown
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