Towheeblog

This is a season of much movement. Leaves fall and float. Seeds may disperse on winds. Winds pick up as storms and weather fronts move around. Many birds and insects migrate. Today a large flock of Cedar Waxwings came into our south Salem neighborhood–first I’ve seen here this autumn. They will find the berries and fruit, clean them up and clear out. The waxwing flock was dispersing and gathering, coming together and coming apart. You can be sure that few rowan or hawthorn or chokecherry or pyracantha or crabapples or other edible fruit will remain when these waxwings wander off.

Click here for link to the Birdcast website.

Click here for my piece on Salem Reporter website–about this migration season.

Here is website that allows you trace the historical paths (click here) used by each North American bird species during the year.

PLANET EARTH

Click here for essay by Dr. Pepper Trail on the climate and our own response.
Like every negative effect of our global economy, climate is going to be harder on the poor and un-powerful. Click here.

Some two-word phrases just shout negativity. Earthquake damage. Dying coral. Widespread famine. Traffic accident. Plane crash. Teen suicide. Sulphur hexafluoride. Click here.

LEE FRENCH NOTE FROM ASHLAND
“Memo to myself: Make sure the garage door stays closed!”

GARDEN ACTION

There is a lot of finchly activity here right now. House Finch and American Goldfinch numbers have been gradually increasing since early August when breeding seemed to stop and fledglings began to appear. Now we have over 20 American Goldfinch, maybe even twice that. A panicked cloud forms when they all take off at once into the treetops. There may be almost as many House Finches. The Lesser GF come in small groups or even pairs. I expect them all winter.

954 Ratcliff Drive SE, Marion, Oregon, US
Sep 22, 2022. 13 species

Wild Turkey  2
Eurasian Collared-Dove  1
Mourning Dove  1
Northern Flicker  1
Steller’s Jay  X
California Scrub-Jay  4
American Crow  X
Black-capped Chickadee  1
European Starling  2
Cedar Waxwing  80
House Finch  20
Lesser Goldfinch  5
American Goldfinch  30