[EBB Sightings] olive-sided flycathers

Dear Birders:

In response to Sylvia Sykora's posting yesterday from near Skyline Blvd. in 
Oakland about the 'unusual' behavior of the local Olive-sided Flycatcher, I 
have observed them vocalizing with their energetic "Pip-pips" late in the 
season, but not singing.  You didn't say if the pair was still together 
after their two unsuccessful brood-raising.  Late singing seems to be common 
enough among some species.  I've heard the California Towhee abandon its 
monotonous "chip" for a full-fledged song and couldn't belief it was issuing 
from the throat of that rather undistinguished bird unless I had seen it.  I 
was told this was the behavior of an unmated male summoning up a final aria 
or two before the end of the season

Raven predation is becoming a real problem now that they are spreading their 
range and are successfully raising their own broods in new areas.

Olive-sided Flycatchers have been in decline for sometime possibly because 
of the deterioration of their wintering habitats in South America.  The last 
several years they no longer occupy the tall eucalyptus in my Berkeley Hills 
neighborhood in the summer.  I've had to go to the UC Botanical Garden or 
the Tilden Park native botanical garden to hear them.

Phila Rogers