[obol] Brewer's Sparrows' song

[Mike Patterson]

Alan Contreras and I found Brewer's Sparrows apparently breeding
in stunted hemlocks at Jefferson Park on the the Linn/Jefferson
County border, Mt Jefferson Wilderness Area in 1992.  We found
singing individuals and even managed to mist-net a couple.  I suspect
they may be more common in timberline habitats than we know.

We also found Lewis's Woodpeckers and Lazuli Buntings up at Jefferson
Park.  It's actually kind of amazing what one can find around timberline,
if one justs hangs out in one spot for several days....  

I don't have any guesses about why Brewer's Sparrows have taken up in
the Willamette Valley (and apparently missed any discussion of their
habitat choices).  The single Brewer's Sparrow record I know of for 
Clatsop County was singing from a Scouler's Willow thicket at the
mitigation bank.

I remember chasing Grasshopper Sparrow reports around Fern Ridge in 
the 1970's, though I didn't finally add Grasshoper Sparrow to my 
Lane County list until this year).

> Wilson Cady wrote:
> 
> Paul and Obolites,
>         Brewer's Sparrows were found nesting on the volcanic plains at Mt. Saint Helens
> this summer, a truly unlikely spot.
> 
> Wilson Cady
> Washougal, WA
> 
> On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:43:01 -0700 "Paul T. Sullivan" <ptsulliv at spiritone.com> writes:
> 
>      Randy,
> 
>      The song of Brewer's Sparrows is a favorite of mine.  For quite a time I had it
>      on my answering machine.  (Please wait for the beep -- lots of 'em.)
> 
>      On our recent trip to Summer Lake, we heard them sing -- UP IN THE TIMBER ON THE
>      BACK SIDE OF WINTER RIM,  not down on the flats next to Summer Lake wildlife
>      area.  Could those be called Timberline Sparrows?  Does anyone know if the song
>      of that form is different than the desert denizens.
> 
>      Speaking of singing at timberline, Jan Knott's report from Alaska fits that life
>      zone.
> 
>      Paul
> 
>      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- 
Mike Patterson               
Astoria, OR                    
celata at pacifier.com  
 
Malheur NWR Photo Essay
http://www.surfbirds.com/blogs/mbalame/archives/2007/05/malheur200705.html