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drip-dish



	In response to the responses to the birds at my drip bird-bath; it is
merely a large plastic plant-container saucer. It is on the ground, not
elevated at all. I can get away with this because there are no cats out here
in the Elizabethan Gardens. An ordinary garden hose is tied to a branch that
hangs over the dish. There is a shutoff on the end of the hose in which I
removed the rubber washer, therefore it leaks (into the dish). The dish is
located about 4 feet from a huge tangle of shrubs and vines, incuding
callicarpa, muscadine grapes, pokeberry, virginia creeper, and poison ivy.
Of course, the main reason I have had good success is that this dish is
located in a live oak forest on the north end of Roanoke Island, which is a
decent migrant trap! A lot of the birds attracted to the water never
actually gather up enough nerve to get wet, but as long as it draws them
near, that's good enough for me.
	I have been thinking for some time that carrying a portable system, (i.e.,
a small container and a dish), into the field might be a worthwhile venture
during a good flight with dry conditions, maybe somewhere like the Bodie
woods. Just seems like a lot of trouble, certainly would not want to have to
carry it very far!
	By the way, there is still a good variety of warblers here on Roanoke
Island this morning for any of you wondering what to do with your weekend.
And all the winter stuff has shown up, both kinglets, Hermit Thrushes,
Sapsuckers, Winter Wrens, Solitary Vireos, White-throated Sparrows, Phoebes,
Myrtle Warblers. Lots of waterfowl at Pea Island, too.
		Jeff Lewis
		Manteo, NC