Lazuli Bunting

[Akwehl at aol dot com]

The first 77 years of my life were spent in Los Angeles and the next three in
NSL.   So now at age 80, for the first time in my life, I have seen a
(georgeous) Lazuli Bunting!   I live in the treeless new tract of Eaglepointe where
the only birds that visit us are house finches, hummers, magpies, rock wrens,
doves, quail, and chukars.   Also, occasional flyovers of   turkey vulture,
kestrel, Bald Eagle, and a swainson or redtail hawk.   Last season I had a
lifetime-first baltimore oriole which, until now, was my most exciting new bird.
(At first I thought it was a meadowlark).

I have noticed that Utah birders mostly report rare birds but (except for
hummers, finches, and scrub jays) to me they are all new.   And after looking in
the book I understand why no one ever reports the Lazuli.  It breeds here and
must be common to all of you.   But what a surprise when I went to the book
and found every color and detail a perfect match.   This is the first time that
has happened.   Usually the book colors and markings are a bit different in
shading, detail, or angle.

What I really miss from my LA yard are the scrub jays and tree squirrels who
could be tamed enough to take peanuts out of hand.   And I miss the wary crow
who took a year of coaxing to come down from power pole to garage roof for
peanuts.

I know all three will come when we are thick with trees and hope I'll be
around to see it.

Art Wehl

_______________________________________________

"Utah Birds" web site: http://www.utahbirds.org
    Birdnet:
To subscribe, e-mail:  birdnet-subscribe@utahbirds.org
To unsubscribe, e-mail:  birdnet-unsubscribe@utahbirds.org
To send a message, e-mail:  birdnet@utahbirds.org
_________________________________________________