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Re: Chipping Sparrows



> Anne Lurie wrote:
> "Edith K. Tatum" wrote:
> 
> > It's a sure sign of spring when the Chipping Sparrows return to my yard.
> > This afternoon I saw 2 Chipping Sparrows in their brand new spring colors
> > along with the usual mixed group.  Carolina Chickadee's and Carolina Wrens
> > are very busy collecting nesting material and building in two of my bird
> > houses.
> 
> Well, now I'm *really* confused!  I've had Chipping Sparrows around for
> months, and I actually thought they were year-round residents?  I
> usually see 4 or 5 at a time, with 1 or 2 sitting in the bird feeder and
> more on the ground underneath.

Chipping Sparrows are patchily distributed -- you may see them all winter 
in your yard, but your not-too-distant neighbors may not see any.  In 
localities (such as my yard) where they normally don't winter or breed, 
you see them mainly in March and October, when they're migrating through.

A couple of sightings at Mason Farm (Orange Co.) yesterday:

1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
5 Rusty Blackbirds


--
Charles W. "Will" Cook                  w 919-660-7423
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook            cwcook@duke.edu
Biology Dept., Duke Univ., Box 90340, Durham, NC 27708