Not knowing a hemlock from a heimlich, I've given up on looking for white-winged crossbills and was contentedly watching the feeders at Thurber Pond (aka the pit)  about 2:30 p.m. Sat. for the savannah sparrow and the redpoll (which also didn't show up) when a largish flock of small birds (50? 75?)  flew over the pond and landed in a large deciduous tree above Thurber's grave, thereby luring me out of my nice warm car.  And sure enough!  Life birds making a distinctive life sound, which was almost as exciting as their bold white wing bars and their pretty rose color.  They only hung around for 5 minutes or less, then took off in a cloud.  The biggest excitement for the next hour and a half were the pair (probably) of red-breasted nuthatches that briefly visited the middle feeder and the juvenile sharp-shinned hawk that perched nearby, quieting things down until it got bored and left.  Thanks to the Columbus Audubon Society for supplying feed and
 to the volunteer who used his time, muscle and stepladder to fill all the feeders while I was there.
  Good birding!  Pam Unger

The pine tree, the leopard, the Platte River, and ourselves--we are at risk together, or we are on our way to a sustainable world together. We are each other's destiny. --Mary Oliver




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