[obol] Orange-crowned Warblers

[sandyleapt at comcast.net]

Thanks Larry and Dennis.   This is the third time I've seen Orange-crowned Warblers in my garden, the first time this year.  The first time I saw one (a few years ago) coincided with the Red-flowered currant blooming and it was in that plant.  I did get a couple nice pictures this afternoon that show a faint orange crown on one of the birds.  I am happy to share if anyone is interested.

A few years ago I saw a Yellow Warbler working a  blooming Vine Maple at the Metro Demonstration Garden in southeast Portland.  It came down and we looked at each other nose to beak.  it was quite a treat.

Where am I going with this?  Don't know, guess I'm sharing information about diet.

Sandy Leaptrott
NE Portland
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Larry McQueen" <larmcqueen at msn.com>
> Sandy,
> 
> Orange-crowns probe flowers a lot, apparently they get nectar.
> 
> Larry
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: obol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu
> [mailto:obol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu] On Behalf Of
> sandyleapt at comcast.net
> Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 6:32 PM
> To: obol at lists.oregonstate.edu
> Subject: [obol] Orange-crowned Warblers
> 
> 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.
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