I got word about ten days ago that there were Bobolinks at a horse farm on
Starbuck Road north of Wilmington.  Finally got a chance to check them out
yesterday.  My trusty informant had counted 14 earlier.  By the time I got
there, we could only find six, four males and two females.

The birds were in a recently cut pasture in which two horses were grazing.
 The pasture is one of several pastures totaling perhaps 70 acres.  All are
slated to be cut during the summer on a staggered schedule.  The last one is
due to be cut in late July, so there is some uncertainty in whether the
birds can bring off a brood.

The pasture containing the birds is about 300 yards from the road (a long
par 3) and a huge barn is between the road and the pasture.  This is a
working horse farm and the owner does not want visitors.  The pasture just
to the north and the one to the south of the farmstead are visible from
Starbuck Road if the birds are in the eastern end.  All in all, these are
not very chaseable birds.  There are other reliable locations that are more
accessible.

I was also pleasantly surprised to hear a Grasshopper Sparrow singing.  Some
years ago, I gave up hope of ever hearing another Grasshopper Sparrow  when
I saw one on a wire obviously singing and couldn't hear a note.

Cheers,

Bob

--
Robert D Powell
Congress Farm Research Institute
Wilmington, OH, USA
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http://rdp1710.wordpress.com

Nulla dies sine aves

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