Where are the birds?

92 views
Skip to first unread message

Barry Ulman

unread,
May 14, 2021, 2:50:03 AM5/14/21
to Whatcom Birds
This has been a notably lackluster year for spring migrants. I usually get a fair number of neotropical migrants in my neighborhood in the first two weeks of May; Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Yellow-rumped, Wilson’s, and Orange-crowned Warblers. This year nothing. At Scudder Pond and Whatcom Falls Park, a few Black-throated Grays, Wilson’s, and Orange-crowned Warblers; no Yellow-rumped. No Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, or Swainson’s Thrushes. I didn’t see one swallow flying over Scudder Pond.

There’s a possibility that our unseasonably-cold spring weather could have some influence. But I’m thinking that we are really witnessing the loss of about one third of our bird population as reported by various ornithologists. What are other people seeing or not seeing out there?

Barry Ulman

mksan

unread,
May 14, 2021, 10:33:26 AM5/14/21
to Whatcom Birds, barryu...@gmail.com
We live adjacent to Whatcom Falls Park and just this past week observed at our suet feeder one Western Tanager and one black-headed Grosbeak.

Karen Sanford

darcie

unread,
May 14, 2021, 10:42:43 AM5/14/21
to mksan, Whatcom Birds
we live out Samish Way with Galbraith mtn behind us, one black headed Grosbeak pair & one Western Tanager pair showed up this week, no Swainsons yet, & very few intermittent Swallow visitors.. unnaturally quiet... 

Sent from my iPad

On May 14, 2021, at 7:33 AM, mksan <mksa...@gmail.com> wrote:

We live adjacent to Whatcom Falls Park and just this past week observed at our suet feeder one Western Tanager and one black-headed Grosbeak.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Whatcom Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to whatcom-bird...@northcascadesaudubon.org.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/northcascadesaudubon.org/d/msgid/whatcom-birds/7ca51de9-cb34-4a11-9ead-7cb5f52efaf8n%40northcascadesaudubon.org.

NANCY DOWNING

unread,
May 14, 2021, 11:09:33 AM5/14/21
to mksan, Whatcom Birds, barryu...@gmail.com
I went out to Scudder Pond yesterday and walked as far as Derby Pond. The only birds on the pond were a pair of Canada geese and a few mallards. The creek had no ducks at all and the only birds I saw at Scudder were one Black-headed Grosbeak, the Red-winged Blackbirds and the nesting Canada Goose.
--
Black-headed Grosbeak Scudder Pond 5-13-21.jpg
IMG_9406.JPG

Henry Lagergren

unread,
May 14, 2021, 11:12:30 AM5/14/21
to Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds

I too have been noticing the “Silent Spring” here in Sudden Valley.  I’ve had only one pair of Black-headed Grosbeaks where I usually have a number of pairs.  They are quiet.  Once in a blue moon a partial song.  They come to eat at the suet feeder and just don’t appear to be energetic at all.  I DO have at least 2 pairs of Western Tanager’s and they hardly shut up and come in to feed on the suet frequently.  I’ve tried whitting the Swainson Thrush but get no reply. There are no swallows overhead where there are usually a number of them most any time of day. My Purple finch couple is visible buy mostly quiet.  No Pacific Slope Fly Catcher either.    I was starting to take it personal until I read others messages this morning. 

 

I visited a friend of mine out on the Kelly Road a couple of days ago and he had a number of Black-headed and Evening Grosbeaks at his feeder and making plenty of noise in the trees.

 

Yeah.  What gives?

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Whatcom Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to whatcom-bird...@northcascadesaudubon.org.

Adena Mooers

unread,
May 14, 2021, 11:16:00 AM5/14/21
to Henry Lagergren, Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds
I have not seen the usual flocks of spring migrants at all this year. I chalked it up to being busy and not watching closely. I live in Bellingham on South Hill.

Stephen Chase

unread,
May 14, 2021, 11:38:35 AM5/14/21
to Whatcom Birds
My eBird app tells me I've recorded 144 species so far in May, and we're only 14 days in. Two days ago I walked through Whatcom Falls Park and enjoyed a fantastic predawn chorus of Swainson's Thrushes and Black-headed Grosbeaks. I counted 45 species on that walk, which I think is an all-time high on eBird for that particular hotspot. In fact I'm consistently finding 30+, and usually 40+ on almost every morning walk I've done for the past month. This morning I walked along some of my favorite trails in Maple Falls. Even from the Mt. Baker Highway with the windows closed, I can hear Black-headed Grosbeaks and Western Tanagers singing all along the road. On all three walks, I counted several of each. Common Yellowthroat, Warbling Vireos, Black-throated Gray Warblers, and Wilson's Warblers in abundance! I've had good looks at three Nashville Warblers this spring; I don't think I've ever seen three in a spring before this year. Point Whitehorn especially has been excellent for warblers all spring long, especially Orange-crowned and Wilson's. Now I'm hearing Olive-sided Flycatchers in all their favorite spots, and House Wrens in their local nesting sites along the Nooksack River in Everson and Lynden. I've found Mallards or Wood Ducks with young at Hoag's Pond, Stimpson Reserve, Tennant Lake, Lake Terrell, Maple Falls, etc... I'm sure all nature lovers fear the thought of a "silent spring." It feels like every year the odds are more and more stacked against the birds. And my observations above are purely anecdotal too, as are all of yours. But I can say pretty confidently that, at least where I've been going (a lot of places!), this year is not the silent spring.
Stephen Chase

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/northcascadesaudubon.org/d/msgid/whatcom-birds/D750E57B-FE69-4DE8-9034-F5B2534B8F8B%40gmail.com.

John Bower

unread,
May 14, 2021, 12:01:20 PM5/14/21
to Adena Mooers, Henry Lagergren, Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds

Same here on Alabama Hill – much slower than is typical.  I wonder if all these nice days with northern breezes has slowed things down?  I am guessing there will be a mad rush of birds in the next week or so.

 

Best,

 

John

 

 

signature_1829334248

 

Dr. John Bower (he, him, his)

Dean & Professor of Biology

Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Western Washington University

516 High St.

Bellingham, WA 98225-9118

 

Office: 360-650-7217 

 

Tom Pratum

unread,
May 14, 2021, 12:13:23 PM5/14/21
to Whatcom Birds, Adena Mooers, Henry Lagergren, Barry Ulman, John Bower
Speaking from relatively afar (S. Oregon), I can say that even here we have seen relatively few migrants this Spring. I particularly notice the lack of BHGRs; others down here have also noticed this. One theory I heard down here is that it might be due to the Wildfires last Summer, that burned very close to here. However that really couldn’t be the case up there, so now I don’t know…… the numbers have been increasing over time, but still far below other years.


Tom Pratum, Jacksonville, OR


On May 14, 2021, at 9:01 AM, John Bower <jbo...@wwu.edu> wrote:

Same here on Alabama Hill – much slower than is typical.  I wonder if all these nice days with northern breezes has slowed things down?  I am guessing there will be a mad rush of birds in the next week or so.
 
Best,
 
John
 
 
<image001.png>
 

Johnrstark

unread,
May 14, 2021, 12:22:43 PM5/14/21
to schas...@gmail.com, whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org
We do want to avoid generalizing from anyone's impressions, especially mine. But I am fairly confident that there has been a significant drop in the incidence of violet-green swallows in central Bellingham over the years. They were once commonplace over Sehome, and I would also see them downtown in the mornings on my way into the Herald Building. Now, that seems rare. Do others agree?

I do still expect to see them at locations near water--Scudder, Padden etc.

John Stark


-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Chase <schas...@gmail.com>
To: Whatcom Birds <whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org>
Sent: Fri, May 14, 2021 8:37 am
Subject: Re: Where are the birds?

Sue Parrott

unread,
May 14, 2021, 1:11:39 PM5/14/21
to Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds
Thanks for asking the questions Barry.  Like many of you, we have been wondering this for a few weeks and have been patiently waiting for some changes.  Our yard has been eerily quiet for this time of year and we have lived here over 25 years.  Every 3 or 4 days there does seem to be a small change as something new comes in…but I sure feel like the numbers are staying very low.  This morning I saw my first female BHGB , even though we have had a few males for 2 weeks.  Usually the females are right behind the males.  I am not hearing Pacific Slope flycatchers on my walks so far this year.  We have had one Swainson’s singing on a few evenings, but not even many whits. 

When we were in the Chiricahua Mtn. In SE Arizona 2 plus weeks ago, the migrant birds were unusually quiet and late there.  Things were picking up as we left…but I don’t know how the trend continued.  The elegant Trojan was even late.  

Time will tell….   North Cascades Audubon has been conducting bird surveys on select Whatcom Land Trust properties for the last 7 years.  The surveys are done in early May, and then again in early June and then in September.  Perhaps once we do the June surveys we can do some comparisons to see if there is something different happening this year…..or part of a trend…or what?

Sue Parrott/Steve Harper

On May 13, 2021, at 11:50 PM, Barry Ulman <barryu...@gmail.com> wrote:

This has been a notably lackluster year for spring migrants. I usually get a fair number of neotropical migrants in my neighborhood in the first two weeks of May; Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Yellow-rumped, Wilson’s, and Orange-crowned Warblers. This year nothing. At Scudder Pond and Whatcom Falls Park, a few Black-throated Grays, Wilson’s, and Orange-crowned Warblers; no Yellow-rumped. No Black-headed Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, or Swainson’s Thrushes. I didn’t see one swallow flying over Scudder Pond.

There’s a possibility that our unseasonably-cold spring weather could have some influence. But I’m thinking that we are really witnessing the loss of about one third of our bird population as reported by various ornithologists. What are other people seeing or not seeing out there?

Barry Ulman

--

Peggy Parker

unread,
May 14, 2021, 1:14:34 PM5/14/21
to Johnrstark, schas...@gmail.com, whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org
I'm not a veteran observer, but as a casual one for about 20 years on a small stretch of the Middle Fork of the Nooksack, I have had:
* earlier than usual sightings of redwing blackbirds (January, first sighting this year), and they're back again now,
* no pine siskins for the 2nd year in a row,
* a healthy herd of band-tailed pigeons (my favorite migrator, they amass to over 40 in a few weeks and stay for about a month),
* lots of rufous-sided towhees and black-headed grosbeaks in February, white-crowned and song sparrows since February, American goldfinches and purple house finches just recently (my 5-mile away neighbors have seen the gorgeous evening grosbeaks, I rarely get them),
* an unusual lack of swallows. By May 1, they're usually swooping everywhere on mosquito hatch and other food sources (have seen a few along our road, but none here where they used to nest for several years in a row),
* a usual number of northern flickers, maybe because the great horned owls have moved on -- no audible sign of them for a few years now,
* At least two breeding pairs of Dusky Canada Geese, one pair homesteading their site near my neighbor's pond,
* a small but impressive flock of mergansers in the river, noticed a few years ago and reliably found in the same rilled spot in the river,
* normal amount of hawks (redtail and coopers),  a return of starlings (one nest), thrushes have been through and gone, but I will occasionally hear a hermit thrush in the forest, and three robin nests in the barn -- a record!

I will post when/if the swallows show up in larger numbers.

Peggy Parker
east of Deming

Johnrstark

unread,
May 14, 2021, 1:25:28 PM5/14/21
to spar...@northcascadesaudubon.org, barryu...@gmail.com, whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org
Most of us have had our feeders down for extended periods this year. That, and the irruption of disease-prone pine siskins that triggered it, may have affected our chances of seeing the birds that normally frequent our feeders. Maybe.


-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Parrott <spar...@northcascadesaudubon.org>
To: Barry Ulman <barryu...@gmail.com>
Cc: Whatcom Birds <whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org>
Sent: Fri, May 14, 2021 10:11 am
Subject: Re: Where are the birds?

tom banks

unread,
May 14, 2021, 1:47:14 PM5/14/21
to Whatcom Birds
Same numbers in anacortes. Dang siskins and starlings still mob and empty feeders. So only filling sporadically. More white crown than last yrs. same numbers of gold, house finch. English and song sparrows, towees, nuthatch, chickadees.
We never have gotten many flycatchers, grosbeaks or tanagers. 

On May 14, 2021, at 9:01 AM, John Bower <jbo...@wwu.edu> wrote:



Same here on Alabama Hill – much slower than is typical.  I wonder if all these nice days with northern breezes has slowed things down?  I am guessing there will be a mad rush of birds in the next week or so.

 

Best,

 

John

 

 

<image001.png>

 

Pauline Sterin

unread,
May 14, 2021, 7:55:30 PM5/14/21
to Stephen Chase, Whatcom Birds
I’ve seen 74 species in Whatcom and Skagit Counties this month, and have had wonderful mornings when the warblers were plentiful. I’ve got several pairs of Black-headed Grosbeaks and Western Tanagers coming to the suet, along with a deluge of Evening Grosbeaks for the first time. On my morning dog walk, I’ve had Swainson’s Thrush, Yellow-rumped, Wilson’s, Black-throated Gray, Orange-crowned and now MacGillivray’s Warblers, but no Townsend’s Warblers. I respect that others’ impressions may be more accurate than mine, because I’ve only been birding here a few years.

Pauline Sterin
Toad Mountain

On May 14, 2021, at 8:38 AM, Stephen Chase <schas...@gmail.com> wrote:



Sue Parrott

unread,
May 14, 2021, 10:56:38 PM5/14/21
to Pauline Sterin, Stephen Chase, Whatcom Birds
Hi Everyone,

The of fewer birds here is the migrants and not the wintering birds. I don’t think the issue is the number of migrant species that people have seen this year as all of the species seem to have showed up.  The issue that seems to be floating around from birders that have been birding for a long time is that the numbers of birds are low.  People in Arizona were talking about it when we were birding there 3 weeks ago, people are talking about it on tweeters and I know that long time birders are talking about it here.  So let’s see what happens to see if the migrants are just late or if the numbers are truly lower.

Steven

On May 14, 2021, at 4:55 PM, Pauline Sterin <pste...@gmail.com> wrote:

I’ve seen 74 species in Whatcom and Skagit Counties this month, and have had wonderful mornings when the warblers were plentiful. I’ve got several pairs of Black-headed Grosbeaks and Western Tanagers coming to the suet, along with a deluge of Evening Grosbeaks for the first time. On my morning dog walk, I’ve had Swainson’s Thrush, Yellow-rumped, Wilson’s, Black-throated Gray, Orange-crowned and now MacGillivray’s Warblers, but no Townsend’s Warblers. I respect that others’ impressions may be more accurate than mine, because I’ve only been birding here a few years.

Barry Ulman

unread,
May 15, 2021, 1:52:40 AM5/15/21
to Whatcom Birds
Dear Whatcom Birders:

Thanks to everyone who responded to my inquiry about the low turnout of spring migrants. With a couple of exceptions, the general consensus is that there has indeed been a very low turnout of incoming Neotropical migrants. Hopefully this is just a later arrival of summer birds than usual; time will tell. But if there really are less birds:

I can think of one specific reason why the bird population is down: FEWER INSECTS.  A year or so ago, talk-show-host Thom Hartmann pointed out that when he drives his car in the summer he gets little or no bug spots on the windshield these days. And I began to notice that too. Your immediate reaction may be happiness to be spared of the nuisance of having to squeegee your windshield, but when you think about it, alarm bells should go off in your head. After all, insects are the base of the food chain. Without them, a whole host of animals, especially birds, loses their basic supply of food. This would especially apply to swallows who depend entirely on flying insects for their survival. Indeed, I noticed a sharp decline of Violet-green Swallows over a decade ago. 

Other factors could be: loss of habitat, especially along migratory corridors; pesticides that kill off a lot of insects and also the birds that eat them; and climate change, which has disrupted the timing of birds’ arrival with blooming of flowers and fruits that the birds expect to get when they arrive. And more and more.

Barry Ulman

Peggy Parker

unread,
May 15, 2021, 7:21:02 PM5/15/21
to Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds
Add to FEWER INSECTS and other factors Barry names: collisions with buildings (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0224164), a breathtaking number each year in North America alone; and wind farms -- not so much the blades, but the guy-wires, especially for vultures and other large raptors scanning the ground.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Whatcom Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to whatcom-bird...@northcascadesaudubon.org.

Joe Meche

unread,
May 15, 2021, 7:30:05 PM5/15/21
to Peggy Parker, Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds
Throughout the winter and especially into spring, I've noticed a large decline in the number of birds at Blaine/Semiahmoo.
I go there at least once a week and the most noticeable difference from years past has been the absence of large rafts of loons, specifically the Pacific Loons, whose numbers were often mind-boggling.
Shorebird numbers were also erratic and I never did see the large flocks of Black-bellied Plovers on the bay side of the spit.
Closer to home, numbers have also been low in Whatcom Falls Park.

I could go on, but I also wonder where the birds are.

Joe

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/northcascadesaudubon.org/d/msgid/whatcom-birds/CAFGVrtUV-DcZnDew%3DDVvAHTkNN3KMvCNxRyWuGoCfqKHt318eA%40mail.gmail.com.

Barry Ulman

unread,
May 15, 2021, 11:56:39 PM5/15/21
to Joe Meche, Peggy Parker, Whatcom Birds

The warming of the waters due to climate change could be affecting loons and other water birds. The fish are either dying off or moving to colder waters, greatly reducing the food supply.

Barry

Barry Ulman

unread,
May 16, 2021, 12:36:06 AM5/16/21
to Peggy Parker, Whatcom Birds
Certainly collisions with buildings takes its toll of birds every year, but that’s been going on for years. Would there be that many more things to bump into this year? I’m thinking it’s something else, and the first thing that occurred to me was collapse of the food chain. I know there’s been a lot of reporting of a huge decline of bees; that could cause a big decline of fruits due to less pollination. And bees aren’t the only insects that have declined. Birds are starving to death.

Barry

Veronica Wisniewski

unread,
May 16, 2021, 1:40:47 AM5/16/21
to Whatcom Birds
Perhaps it’s time we plant more food for insects in the form of native trees and shrubs in our yards.  Nesting habitat is an added outcome. 

Veronica Wisniewski



--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Whatcom Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to whatcom-bird...@northcascadesaudubon.org.

Barry Ulman

unread,
May 16, 2021, 2:17:49 AM5/16/21
to Veronica Wisniewski, Whatcom Birds
Good idea.

B.

Sue Parrott

unread,
May 16, 2021, 5:10:19 PM5/16/21
to Barry Ulman, Peggy Parker, Whatcom Birds
Perhaps people also remember the mass die off of migrating birds in the southwest last August and September.  How might this be affecting numbers this year?  See link below.


On May 15, 2021, at 9:36 PM, Barry Ulman <barryu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Certainly collisions with buildings takes its toll of birds every year, but that’s been going on for years. Would there be that many more things to bump into this year? I’m thinking it’s something else, and the first thing that occurred to me was collapse of the food chain. I know there’s been a lot of reporting of a huge decline of bees; that could cause a big decline of fruits due to less pollination. And bees aren’t the only insects that have declined. Birds are starving to death.

Barry


On May 15, 2021, at 4:20 PM, Peggy Parker <peggypa...@gmail.com> wrote:

Add to FEWER INSECTS and other factors Barry names: collisions with buildings (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0224164), a breathtaking number each year in North America alone; and wind farms -- not so much the blades, but the guy-wires, especially for vultures and other large raptors scanning the ground.


Barry Ulman

unread,
May 16, 2021, 7:14:05 PM5/16/21
to Sue Parrott, Peggy Parker, Whatcom Birds
Hi Sue,

Thanks for posting this article. I do remember hearing about a massive die-off of birds in the southwest last fall. I would have thought that the severe fires in California might have been a big factor; they destroyed a lot of vegetation and the berries and insects that would have gone along with that. But according to that article, it was a freak cold snap in the southwest that cut down on available insects, causing starvation.

The article also mentioned that the emaciation of birds was actually a long-term problem. So that supports my theory of the general demise of insects being a major factor. The birds were already weakened by a shortage of food, and this cold wave in the southwest was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.

Barry Ulman

John Bower

unread,
May 17, 2021, 2:11:56 PM5/17/21
to Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds

Still not a single Swainson’s thrush on the Railroad Trail north of the Alabama St. bridge – usually at least half a dozen by now.    Only an occasional western tanager, and very few black-headed grosbeaks.  Looking back at my (incomplete, I’ll admit) notes this is a pretty remarkable difference from almost any other year of my 20 in the neighborhood.

 

Best,

 

John

 

 

signature_349048745

 

Dr. John Bower (he, him, his)

Dean & Professor of Biology

Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Western Washington University

516 High St.

Bellingham, WA 98225-9118

 

Office: 360-650-7217 

 

 

 

From: Barry Ulman <barryu...@gmail.com>
Date: Friday, May 14, 2021 at 10:52 PM
To: Whatcom Birds <whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org>
Subject: Re: Where are the birds?

 

Dear Whatcom Birders:

--

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Whatcom Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to whatcom-bird...@northcascadesaudubon.org.

Johnrstark

unread,
May 17, 2021, 6:28:18 PM5/17/21
to jbo...@wwu.edu, barryu...@gmail.com, whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org
I did hear a Swainson's near Scudder Pond today, and I saw one yesterday along the trail that leads from Slater Road to Hovander. But the numbers do seem to be down.



Adena Mooers

unread,
May 17, 2021, 7:27:43 PM5/17/21
to Johnrstark, jbo...@wwu.edu, barryu...@gmail.com, whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org
I have friends at Malheur right now and they are overwhelmed by the large numbers of birds and the variety of birds…so still hoping for a late arrival.

On May 17, 2021, at 3:28 PM, 'Johnrstark' via Whatcom Birds <whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org> wrote:

I did hear a Swainson's near Scudder Pond today, and I saw one yesterday along the trail that leads from Slater Road to Hovander. But the numbers do seem to be down.



-----Original Message-----
From: John Bower <jbo...@wwu.edu>
To: Barry Ulman <barryu...@gmail.com>; Whatcom Birds <whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org>
Sent: Mon, May 17, 2021 11:11 am
Subject: Re: Where are the birds?

Still not a single Swainson’s thrush on the Railroad Trail north of the Alabama St. bridge – usually at least half a dozen by now.    Only an occasional western tanager, and very few black-headed grosbeaks.  Looking back at my (incomplete, I’ll admit) notes this is a pretty remarkable difference from almost any other year of my 20 in the neighborhood.
 
Best,
 
John
 
 
<image001.png>
 

Sue Parrott

unread,
May 17, 2021, 9:27:09 PM5/17/21
to Adena Mooers, Johnrstark, jbo...@wwu.edu, barryu...@gmail.com, whatco...@northcascadesaudubon.org
Good news from the woods above Lake Samish….after having about 4 male BHGB and 1 female BHGB for the past week or more…..suddenly while we were eating dinner our yard and feeders were frantic with 16 -20 BHGB - 4 of those females- trying to eat.  Maybe at least the BHGB have finally arrived!

Sue

On May 17, 2021, at 4:27 PM, Adena Mooers <adenaf...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have friends at Malheur right now and they are overwhelmed by the large numbers of birds and the variety of birds…so still hoping for a late arrival.

John Egbert

unread,
May 17, 2021, 11:46:07 PM5/17/21
to John Bower, Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds
Not hearing the call notes around Lake Padden. I heard one on the South Fork. 



Sent from my iPhone

On May 17, 2021, at 11:11 AM, John Bower <jbo...@wwu.edu> wrote:



Still not a single Swainson’s thrush on the Railroad Trail north of the Alabama St. bridge – usually at least half a dozen by now.    Only an occasional western tanager, and very few black-headed grosbeaks.  Looking back at my (incomplete, I’ll admit) notes this is a pretty remarkable difference from almost any other year of my 20 in the neighborhood.

 

Best,

 

John

 

 

<image001.png>

 

John Egbert

unread,
May 18, 2021, 1:43:42 AM5/18/21
to John Bower, Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds
Comment from me regarding Swainson's thrush    Other migrant numbers way down at my place on S Hill above very good mixed, edge habitat      Best are W tanagers due to English ivy berries   Not a single BHGB here,  although I heard two recently on the near/west side of Fairhaven Park   

Earlier  2 house wrens, within last week a few orange crowns, one Wilson's, and earlier several yellow rumped.  No flycatcher's          One warbling vireo in a cottonwood on Saturday

When the board range of species is down, big changes have occurred, not something like a particular forest type was heavily logged in the last year that explains the big picture.     So what events between last Spring and this one may have caused a big dropoff?  Some have mentioned the CA and SW fires and their timing with last Fall's migration.  If a bird can't navigate or handle the poor air quality, guess what? As I easily recall, the breadth of the smoke was regional and prohibitively damaging. South into Latin America, fire has been a non-issue except the usual spring field burning, But it's patchy.   
US and Canadian fire frequency and severity are being attributed to climate change.  Ironically we're taking off more masks and they should be putting them on. Wish they the innocent could.


 

Karen McMains

unread,
May 18, 2021, 5:05:14 AM5/18/21
to John Egbert, John Bower, Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds
finally Swainson's call here, adjunct Padden Creek 24th st., otherwise juncos sparrows wrens woodpeckers abound. Prob.many warblers heard but don't know songs (want a birding friend to sit with me and ID! who's the long long trill?) Never seen a tanager in the yard, in the past grosbeaks, not yet this year, they're down the InterUrban.
 Hummers, come back! Bought salvia, fuschia, bee balm today, hope to see some more. All neighbors are feeding sugar water, perhaps too much food, too few hummers? and I'm on the greenbelt, so many insects. 
Namaste,
Karen


To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/northcascadesaudubon.org/d/msgid/whatcom-birds/CAKViJbjraSGZnbD2QGoHgeaqT6QHvMe_%2BAdAOPF%3DqZuoDZmVww%40mail.gmail.com.

John Bower

unread,
May 18, 2021, 11:58:13 AM5/18/21
to Karen McMains, John Egbert, Barry Ulman, Whatcom Birds

With the return of south winds (well, SW last night) after a long period of northerlies I was wondering if this morning would have more migrants in my daily morning dog-walking route (railroad trail north of the bridge over Alabama).  And the answer is, “yes,” but not a huge increase.   The only new arrival is Pacific Slope Flycatcher, but there were obvious increases in several species including:  Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and Western Tanager.  Still no Swainson’s Thrush (though I have often noticed I first hear them on my evening walks), nor an increase in Black-Headed Grosbeak. 

 

Tonight’s winds are forecast to come from due South, so maybe tomorrow morning will show another increase.

 

Best,

 

John

 

 

signature_159763856

 

Patricia Otto

unread,
May 18, 2021, 7:34:23 PM5/18/21
to Sue Parrott, Pauline Sterin, Stephen Chase, Whatcom Birds
The flock of at least 100 Band Tailed pigeons that I feed descended into an old serviceberry with tiny unripe berries and gorged themselves this morning. Black headed grosbeaks are singing in groups as they do in courtship and there can be 10 at a time on the feeders. Still a good flock of evening grosbeaks, maybe 20 or so. Hummers stopped coming to feeders last 2 weeks of April when twinberries were in bloom (don’t know if that was related). Both species back now and emptying my 4 feeders almost daily. Have heard thrush singing here and making their assortment of evening talk. Also heard olive sided flycatcher and pacific slope. Wilson’s and black throated grey are main warblers plus yellow throat in the beaver swamp. I am grateful every year for any birds that make it back from migration and consider it a small miracle when some do. We all know certainly that bird populations everywhere are declining and I definitely do not see the number or diversity of species here that I did 30 years ago. Tricia 

Sent from my iPhone

On May 14, 2021, at 7:56 PM, Sue Parrott <spar...@northcascadesaudubon.org> wrote:


Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages