This morning Jane and I took a more leisurely-paced walked around the property of Valhalla Acres Fiber Farm, our 57-acre "yard" on Flint Ridge in western Muskingum County. She was shooting photos of the wildflowers, and I encouraged her to take her time as I soaked in the birdlife. A Louisiana waterthrush has been singing heartily near Valhalla Falls since April 5. (All location names are our own, and will mean nothing to others, but they are posted here for my own reference.) This morning was no exception. Annually, this is our first warbler. A pair of brown creepers was a highlight, one of them singing up a storm, in that faint but exuberant brown creeper kind of way. I see this species every year here, but they are never exactly common. The mockingbirds are back. From 2000 until 2007 we had a mocker that would overwinter, but lately this has become a migrant arrival in springtime. It's always good to see them come back. I saw one evening around dusk, as I was out in the bluebird trail engaging myself into the sparrow wars (more about that below.) Brown thrashers have been around since March 21. No catbirds yet. Methinks I heard the first common yellowthroat of the season, while Jane was photographing the Virginia bluebells near the Beech Point. I am not certain, since it was distant, calling from somewhere up near the Back Forty. Common yealowthroats are annually quite common here, with usually four or five territories and nests. As I mentioned, last evening Jane was at a spinning meeting (those who use spinning wheels and pursue the fiber arts.) And so, I took the opportunity to venture out on the "bluebird" trail and examined all seven boxes. Not everyone feels this way, but I regard house sparrows as a scourge: non-native, aggressive interlopers. I wish I did not have to travel so much on business, and that I had more time to foster and ensure the success of the right species, bluebirds and tree swallows. But I do what I can. If you don't like the unpleasant realities of the sparrow wars I suggest you read no further. I haven't been seeing tree sparrows around, and I find this a little alarming, since they are usually common, successful nesters. --- My results in the field at this point in the season are not too encouraging, with one notable exception. I guess the sparrows got a huge head start with the early spring. I cleaned out box #1 of a house sparrow nest March 21, and there was another sparrow nest started with no eggs, cleaned out again. Box #2 - five sparrow eggs, cleaned out. Box #3 - four sparrow eggs, cleaned out. Box #4 - four sparrow eggs, cleaned out. Box #5, a nest of indeterminate species - no eggs or adults nearby. I left it and will monitor again today to determine action. Box #6 - a wonderful clutch of four beautiful bluebird eggs! Finally... Box #7 - a disheartening find of a dead male tree swallow in the bottom of the box, No nest or eggs, just the remains of the swallow with its head beat in, undoubtedly by a house sparrow. Cleaned out. After my excursion around the Back Forty, I sat as dusk fell by the campfire site that overlooks #s 4, 5, 6 and 7. In the dimming light I saw a bluebird return to #6. We will see what happens from here out. I am mostly home for the spring, with the exception of 5 days next week and another five in May. I resolve to be diligent. I must order another Van Ert trap since I can't seem to find mine. Bob Evans Geologist, etc. Hopewell Township, Muskingum County ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]