My yard is bustling with color and song. I am taking a gamble with attracting a bear, but I can't resist. My feeders are so much more active and colorful this spring than all winter. I have American Goldfinch and Purple Finch, and Evening Grosbeak and Rose-breasted Grosbeak for color combos. Also a Baltimore Oriole coming to an orange. The Gray Catbird is now snacking on grape jelly. For song, many warbler songs: Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, American Redstart, Black and White, and Ovenbird, in addition to the Baltimore Oriole's clear liquid whistle, the operatic singing of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and the morning wakeup songs of the cheery American Robin and the yodeling Wood Thrush. What a time of year! The Barn Swallows have shown up within the past week and then leave. No signs yet of pairing up and nesting. We generally have at least four nesting pairs. The warmth is also bringing out additional bird food, ie black flies. : - ) Always fun birding, Peg Ackerson Lyme Center **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************