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BIRD DROUGHT



Like many others on this network, we experienced a drought at our backyard
feeders for most of this month.  I couldn't believe that even our house
sparrows disappeared.  Howsomever, today all of our back yard friends
returned.  Not in the numbers we're accustomed to, but since returning from
walking our Wonder Dachshunds at the beach (Oh I live in Charleston, SC in
a subdivision right across from Charlestowne Landing), have seen the
following:

Yellow bellied Sapsuckers (they nest in our red maple)-2
Downy WP - 1
N. Cardinals - looks like a breeding pair
Carolina Chickadees - a pair putting nesting material in one of our bird
boxes
House Sparrows (aargh) - a pair carrying nesting material into our red tips
House finches
Tufted Titmeeces - 6
Brown Thrasher-1
Song Sparrow (We have a screened gazebo on our deck and one got itself
stuck inside - buteful bird)
Chipping Sparrow
Carolina Wrens - our annual pair I think - nesting in our giant conch shell
on the deck
Red bellied WP
Red headed WP
Blue Jays (of course)
Purple Finch - 1
N. Mockingbird -4
Mourning Doves - 10
Eurasian Collared Doves - 2
Boat tailed Grackles - 3
Red Winged Blackbirds - 5
Rock Doves - 2

I only mention all of this because we haven't seen anything for the last 3
weeks.  We even have our usual suspect butterflies back after a 3 week
absence - cloudless sulfurs, long tailed skippers,  red admiral (what
gorgeous things they are), gulf frittilaries (spelling mite be ugly here). 
Very optimistic about finally getting some goldfinches this year - haven't
had anything other migrants since we moved back here fm Hawaii in 1997.

Only recently signed onto this net and am really enjoying all the email. 
Continued good birding everyone.

Bill Guptill (Commander, U. S. Navy/Retired)