Vincent, Thanks for the details about Tree Swallows in FL. They are favorites of mine and others, harbingers of spring for many of us here in the Midwest. Another notable half-hardy species that thrives on wax is our Yellow-rumped Warbler. You no doubt see many around Naples, FL on the same shrubs used by Tree Swallow--if they leave any fruit behind. Yellow-rumps rely on myrtle far to the north along the east coast and peidmont. We see many "butter-butts" here in central Ohio. They are most often found in our overgrown areas where clusters of poison ivy fruits are found. Their liquid "chip" is a common sound in my side yard. Waiting for Tree Swallows... Tom Bain The Central Ohio Clayey Till Plain ---- Vincent Lucas <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi Darlene: > > Tree Swallow is our most common winter swallow down here in SW FL. > Flocks of 100,000 can sometimes be seen and when they get into a giant > vortex and descend on a wax myrtle, now that's something to behold! As > far as I'm aware, TRSWs are the only bird species that can > successfully digest wax. Purple Martins arrive as early as the first > week of January. They are our earliest returning migrant. . . . > > Cheers. > > Vince > > Vincent Lucas > Naples, FL > [log in to unmask] > http://www.flickr.com/photos/leppyone/ > http://www.caloosabirdclub.org > > Rise up with the new dawn's early morning > Feel the sunshine warm upon your face > Tomorrow's come a long, long way to help you > Yes, it's your saving grace > -- Steve Miller > > > Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:25:58 -0500 > > From: Darlene Sillick <[log in to unmask]> > > Subject: Re: Weather watch > > > > Speaking of Swallows...Last week I was in FL and while at Sanibel I > > watched > > a flock of 600 to 800 Tree Swallows flying low over a marsh area and > > acting > > like a flowing huge flock of blackbirds with their turning and > > twisting. > > > > I also saw Purple Martins at two locations. > > > > Darlene Sillick > > Powell, Ohio > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf > > Of Andy > > Sewell > > Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 9:49 AM > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Re: [Ohio-birds] Weather watch > > > > Just to add some detail to Bill's email, a Barn Swallow was seen > > yesterday in Marquette, Michigan, and local birders there speculate it > > had been blown in with southerly winds. > > > > Andy Sewell > > Columbus, Ohio > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of > > Bill Whan > > Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 9:39 AM > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: [Ohio-birds] Weather watch > > > > Forecasters are employing some seldom-used words to describe > > tomorrow's > > front, which is to deliver very quickly a large mass of warm wet air > > from the Gulf coast between Texas and Mississippi. There is talk of > > possible tornadoes and Ike-like winds of 60-70 mph. Check the > > "Forecast > > Discussion" page on your local Weather Service site for details. > > This will in all likelihood blow in some out-of-range birds, > > and > > there > > is a small chance some will be seen by knowledgeable people and > > reported. Ugly weather will persuade most of us to stay inside during > > the passage, but we might see some interesting things after things > > calm > > down. Keep an eye open for the unusual, but > > Stay safe, > > Bill Whan > > Columbus > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > 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] ______________________________________________________________________ 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]