Kinglet crown, friendly Wood Duck and early spring happenings

[Lisa Millbank]

Yesterday, I noticed 3 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS in the cottonwoods by the
Corvallis BMX track. 2 males were singing, and the third seemed to be a
female since I couldn't see any hint of a red crown patch, and she
didn't sing. One of the males had his crown patch flared out (see
attached picture) -- not to its fullest extent, but enough to make him
look pretty tough to another kinglet, I guess. I don't usually hear
them singing so much until April.

BROWN CREEPERS were singing and chasing one another with spiraling
flights around the trunks of a few large cottonwoods.

Today, I was downtown running an errand, and was happy to see dozens of
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS flying around over 2nd St. Later, I rode through
Avery Park after running an errand, and noticed lots of blooming YELLOW
WOOD VIOLETS (Viola glabella), WESTERN SPRING-BEAUTIES and WESTERN
TRILLIUMS. I saw a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH examining some knotholes and
rotten tree limbs that appeared to have old nest cavities within them.
At least 4 HUTTON'S VIREOS were singing their monotonous little songs,
and a male GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET who was hanging out with a mixed flock
of CHESTNUT-BACKED and BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES gave a brief song of his
own. I noticed a pair of BUSHTITS on their own instead of with a flock;
it's getting closer to the time when you might notice flocks starting to
break up for nesting season.

At the Starker Park duck pond, there were two pairs of NORTHERN
SHOVELERS with the AMERICAN WIGEONS, and one friendly female WOOD DUCK.
She was running around on the grass with the other ducks, occasionally
giving her squeaky "oo-EEK" call. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were
calling, and I wonder if they'll make another nesting attempt in Sunset
Park this year.

Lisa Millbank
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com