[obol] Orange-crowned Warblers

[sandyleapt at comcast.net]

Hi all,

This morning I when I opened the blinds I was greeted by two Orange-crowned Warblers in the garden at eye level.  They are still here this evening and seem to have joined the local flock of Chickadees and Bushtits.  They are very interested in feeding at the Red-flowering Currant, which is full bloom.  I can't really tell what they are after, it looks like the flowers.  They have also been foraging in the boxwood topiary, I know there are lots of little winged bugs in there.  They have also discovered the fuchsias in my unheated greenhouse and took shelter in there during a rain squall.

This is yet another reason to never, never use insecticides on anything!  One trick I learned by experimentation this year is that shelled sunflower seeds work great if you have weevil, slugs, or cutworms in the garden.  I sprinkled the seeds around the affected plants this winter, the birds seem to have taken the bugs and the seeds because bug damage has been greatly reduced.

Guess you just have to be careful where you by the seed, no big box stores.  Buy local.

Sandy Leaptrott
NE Portland

PS:  Did I mention the Curtailed Flycatcher/Bow-wow Jay nests in Dogwood Trees.  It constructs the nest from bark.  No, really :)  Thanks for letting me get that out of my system until the next time.