[birding] Lazuli Bunting

[lisaaves at peak.org]

On Philomath Blvd., right next to the bike path, there's an old sheep
pasture that OSU partially converted to an RV lot last summer.  That
pasture and overgrown site of a house (which was torn down a couple of
years ago) has had at least 2-3 Lazuli Buntings singing every year and I
was wondering if they would come back, since a substantial part of the
pasture now has a gravel surface to accommodate football fans visiting
town in their RVs.

So, it was nice to hear one bunting was (presumably) singing on his
breeding territory this morning.  I got to hear at least 5 songs as I rode
by, so I assumed that he's settling in and getting serious about singing
now.  Hopefully at least this one male will still find it a good enough
place to raise his family.  There is good bunting habitat at the old house
site, which is gradually being smothered by long grass, shrubs and
blackberry thickets.  Drinking/bathing spots are nearby at the Marys
River, and a gigantic old Black Walnut tree shades everything in the
summer.

Lisa
www.neighborhood-naturalist.com