Date: 7/26/25 7:28 am
From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...>
Subject: The Raleigh Painted Bunting on the front page of the News & Observer today
As folks know, the adult male Painted Bunting that has appeared in
spring-summer 2022, 2023, and 2024 at Dix Park in Raleigh, made a very
brief appearance in spring 2025 and then seemingly died or left the
region. But a handful of days ago, he "re-appeared" and has been seen and
heard repeatedly now. However, as locals know, the City of Raleigh cut
down most of the nasty exotic Bradford Pears that lined the south side of
the gravel sunflower field parking lot this spring, as understandably the
Dix Park master plan calls for elimination of exotic plants where
feasible/possible. Sadly, that forced the bunting and a few other
species to disappear, and apparently the bunting moved far up the hill --
which was also cleared of woody vegetation. The south side of the hill is
still a dense and thick forested place, and this is where he has been found
most recently, though some lucky birders have seen him back down in the
flats at the huge brush pile, where it is often easy to spot and
photograph. Sadly, he has never seemed to attract a female, but that has
not stopped him. Where he goes in fall and winter is conjecture, but
possibly he heads to a local feeder. Yes, there are a few Indigo Buntings
around, and the clearings did not seem to affect them much.

Her is a long link to the story, with several local birders quoted -- it
might not work for some of you, as these very long links are tricky to deal
with on phones, for example:

https://eedition.newsobserver.com/shortcode/LMCRAL/edition/6eab9486-5fbd-853f-797c-ed5eb09fd0e6?page=8c588725-8540-63dd-67fd-62e5fbfcff0e&

Harry LeGrand
Raleigh

 
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