There is a Black-headed Grosbeak coming to a Holmes County feeder. It
has been present for approximately 4 weeks according to the homeowners
Allen N Ada Raber who knew they had a grosbeak but just recently told
Joshua Yoder who went and confirmed the species and spoke with the
homeowners about the possibility of allowing the many visitors that
would love to see this bird.
Allen is most welcoming of visitors but
there are some key logistics to follow to make it work well so please
read and follow very carefully if you try for this bird. The address is
2690 Township Road 66, Killbuck. This is an extremely quiet narrow dirt
road but there is a small running business at the house and deliveries
may be made there so all of the parking is to be along the east side of
the road, south of the house.
Parking will need to be from the green
gate and extending south from there. During peak visitation, some will
need to park south back to the curve in the road and beyond to find
places wide enough to pull off the east side of the road and still allow
traffic to pass. It is of course CRUCIAL to not block the road and
allow even small trucks to pass. Viewing will happen only from the road
viewing the feeder on the south side of the house. The land west of the
road opposite the house is owned by someone that will not tolerate
anyone on his land so do NOT step off the west side of the road near the
house. It will be in everyone's best interest if folks are as STILL and
QUIET as possible as you wait on the road as the bird seems pretty shy.
It has often scanned the yard from the spruce on the north end of the
row of White Pine by the green gate and people will be near this lookout
tree so quiet and still will be essential to help the bird come to the
feeder. Many thanks to the Raber's for their hospitality and to Joshua
Yoder for helping with arrangements and confirming the bird. As a thank
you please sign the guestbook by the green gate and consider a donation
of bird seed.
It appears some patience may be required. The bird was seen several times this morning and now has been absent for an extended period. It has been seen every morning and afternoon since it's arrival.Good luck!
Kent Miller