MP>That said, I used to say there were no Catbirds or Oriels in this area
  >but, in the past 1.5 weeks, I have seen both at my home.

RM>> I don't think we have Catbirds this far North, and not many birds that
  >> are really colourful. Bluejays are common and Robins but more than
  >> anything else here I see Seagulls, Crows and a few types of Woodpeckers,
  >> plus Swallows and Chickadees for the smaller ones.

MP>Catbirds are not very colorful, but the Oriels are.

No, I knew that and was referring to the Orioles..

MP>There is a young lady on YT that, IIRC, lives in the Maritimes who often
  >posts videos about Bluejays.  Apparently, where she is, they molt.  I have
  >never seen a featherless jay down here but they are pretty weird looking. 

I don't think I've ever seen one doing that, but they do. But they
lose the feathers slowly and they are replaced so the bird is better
protected and the only obvious clue they are molting is they can
lose most of the feathers on their heads leaving them rather bald..

RM>> But there are lots of hunting type birds here, Hawks and Eagles and
  >> Turkey Vultures. The county builds nesting spots on high towers for
  >> the Osprey Eagles to nest on. For some reason they encourage those
  >> more than anything else.

MP>There are Hawks and Falcons nearby as I live near the Pallisades.  Turkey
  >Vultures are EVERYWHERE here.  Just about as common, if not more so, than
  >the state bird -- the Cardinal.

MP>Eagles are not plentiful in my immediate
  >area, but are more common in Eastern Kentucky, especially around our
  >several man-made lakes.

We never had bald eagles here that I ever knew about until we
got a couple local the last few years I see flying around now
and then. They are more common in British Columbia. A friend of
mine wand hiking there and took a picture showing probably 30
or so of them around a small lake in the trees. I'd have thought
they'd be more territorial than that but I suppose there was
lots of food available..

I don't think I've seen any Falcons here and known what they were.
There are 4 types that live in Ontario, Canada though so maybe I've
just missed them.. Looking online Peregrine Falcons are year round
residents not too far South of here, but not this far up..
That's the type that you know right away what it is..

Merlin Falcons only Migrate through this area but Gyrfalcons should
actually be here in Winter, and furter North year round. I guess
they like the cold, and it would explain why they are mostly white..
And Kestrels could be here year round too.

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 * SLMR Rob  * Do fish get cramps after eating?
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