Path: utzoo!censor!geac!jtsv16!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!bionet!ames!uhccux!mikeb
From: mikeb@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Mike Burger)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Range Expansion
Keywords: expansion
Message-ID: <4528@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
Date: 8 Aug 89 19:17:11 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Hawaii
Lines: 20


	I have been a casual birdwatcher on Oahu for several years.
Even in the last few years the expansion of the Java Sparrow, a
cute little bird that seems to travel in pairs, has been quite
obvious.
	It is an escaped cage bird.  I believe they started
on the north shore of Oahu.  In the last few years they have
been sweeping down the Manoa Valley.
	Last year I saw large (as many as 80) flocks of them feeding
on open grass areas that had gone to seed at a private school
above the University.
	Just yesterday I saw a large group of them feeding right
in the middle of the University campus for the first time.  It
is not taking long for this small bird to make itself at home.
At least they have not yet taken to begging for handouts with
the more common species of imports at the campus center cafeterias.
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  Mike Burger, Chemistry, 2545 The Mall  |  University of  Hawaii  |
  BITNET:   MIKEB@UHCCUX.bitnet          | Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822 |
  INTERNET: mike@helium.chem.hawaii.edu     Phone: (808) 948-7503