Returning from our cottage in Coshocton Co. today, Tim & I drove some back roads in Holmes Co. & were lucky enough to find a flock of 10-20 American Pipits feeding on some freshly spread manure. They were on CR 58 just west of the intersection with T122 & T128. (Delorme 60A4--right above the"N" in Mechanic Township). Also saw a Rough-legged Hawk on T157, just outside of Charm (DeLorme 51D4). While driving these roads we saw quite a few kestrels, more than we have seen in similar habitat in other rural areas of Coshocton, Stark, Summit & Portage counties. (The counties we drive most often). Remembering the discussions we have seen on this list-serve regarding possible kestrel population declines, we wondered what might be different in Holmes Co. Could the use of Round-up Ready crops that has become so popular in recent years be a factor? It is quite likely that these Round-up treated seeds are not used as heavly on Amish farms. These treated seeds result in less weeds, which should mean less insects & therefore less food for kestrels. Or could the insects that are present have toxins in them from the treated seeds? Would any of this hypotheses result in kestrels either dying or moving to other areas, such as Holmes Co.? Has anyone else noticed more kestrels in some counties that have less soybean/corn row crop production where Round-up Ready seed is more prevelant? Laura Dornan Louisville, Stark Co. ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]