Our Little Mystery Bird

    A week or so ago we were brought a “mystery” baby bird.  The nest had been destroyed & its 3 siblings were dead.  Mom & Dad were not to be found.  So our baby bird specialist, Jen, took in the little orphan to raise & eventually release, but none of us could figure out what kind of bird it was.  Finally, the mystery has been solved.  Our foundling is a Western Wood-Pewee.  Wood-Pewees are medium sized flycatchers. Although these birds are considered common during breeding season throughout the open forests & riparian zones of the western United States, we haven’t encountered one around Klamath Falls.  Populations have been experiencing a slow, steady decline possibly due to habitat destruction in their winter range (tropical forests of South America).  The little guy is doing well so with luck he’ll be ready to release so he can head south later this year.