[obol] Spring Evening Birds from St. Helens

[Hannah Fritz]

In the last hour or so, while I've been out on the deck grilling, the
following sitings were made: One ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER preening in a tree.
Four WESTERN GREBE in the Columbia, near side of Sand Island. Two OSPREY
paired up on their usual nesting platform by the Boise yard (although
looking further across the river, near the Sand Island pilons, I don't see
any other birds yet). Two CANADA GOOSE chillin' in a puddle in the Boise
yard. One KILLDEER (heard) in the same yard. One COOPER'S HAWK that sailed
into the yard and settled on a log just long enough to receive the wrathful
attention of ever-present CROW population. Two COMMON RAVEN (one seen, one
heard) investigating the dumpster area of the Boise yard, which they've been
doing on and off for the last few months. Three AMERICAN GOLDFINCH on the
niger feeder. One FLICKER flying overhead. Many SCRUB JAY scouring the
neighborhood, hanging around in the hopes I will hide some peanuts for them
to find. HOUSE, WHITE-CROWNED, and SONG SPARROWS scrounging for seed. Two
JUNCOS remain as well. The TOWHEE pair remain hidden in the lilac bush, but
can be plainly heard.

At least one male and one female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD have been coming to
their feeder. I don't know if it's too early or too late, but I combed the
cat to heck and gathered her silky long white hair into one loose ball and
put it in a clean suet cage, in case they (or any other birds) are needing
nesting material. Speaking of nesting materials, I went around and gathered
some long dead branches and some balls of clean cotton fluff and put them on
the deck railing, just in case the Osprey were interested. Our deck is
pretty high up, and I see them snagging branches off the tops of trees for
nesting, so I thought... why not.

I count three TERN on Sand Island, amid the mixed gull flocks. They're a
little too far away for me to be able to judge their species, but I'm sure
someone out there can enlighten me, as I know Tern populations were recently
being discussed on this list.

Ah, if only the weather can stay just like this until, say, May. At least.

Hannah Fritz
St. Helens, OR
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