Western Tanagers in Fort Collins (Larimer)

[DAVID A LEATHERMAN]

I had a group of at least 8 Western Tanagers today in the neighborhood just east of Grandview Cemetery (Grandview and Frey Avenues between Laporte and Mountain Avenues, including two alleys).  All seemed to be males and all spent time in boxelder trees (Acer negundo).  They appeared to be nit-picking at small insects associated with new leaves.  Upon inspection, I found these leaves to harbor several Boxelder Psyllid (Psylla negundinis) nymphs of varying sizes.  These have sucking mouthparts and like most insects with this feeding style, they produce sugary honeydew (aka excrement).  You can see a droplet of this behind the top nymph in the photo.  Nymphs turn into adults that look like the bottom photo below. 

A female Bullock's Oriole also foraged in a similar manner in boxelder and I believe it, too, was getting psyllids.

                

                                           

Similar to what others are reporting, in previous weeks the first few Western Tanagers in the neighborhood e of Grandview Cemetery spent time at feeders offering suet.

In years past when I see Western Tanagers in the cemetery, they are mostly in cotoneaster shrubs eating flower buds, flowers or developing fruits.  This year cotoneaster seems to be behind in its development (due to the last "bomb cyclone"?) and, thus, the flowers are not available yet.  Like most birds facing hardship or abnormal conditions, the tanagers try to cope and adjust.  This year it seems suet is a favorite energy source, and I had not noticed them feeding on boxelder psyllids before, either.  As a cautionary note, not previously noticing Western Tanagers feeding on either of these foods could well be oversights on my part, not really novel foods in 2019.

Dave Leatherman

Fort Collins

[bbeat...@gmail.com]

We had about 15 western tanagers for a week (a week ago), also eating suet, then they moved on.   Yesterday, we got another rush, about 4 (2 male and 2 female), also eating suet.  We live 5 miles west of Castle Rock, along CO 105.

 

Brenda Beatty

Sedalia

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[Bill Miller]

We had two male Westerns eating both seed and suet.  They were in our yard for about three days but have now moved on.

The three pmages below were part of Dave Leatherman's original post.

Bill Miller - Fort Collins

We live 1 block east of City Park

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[Linda M]

I just had a male Western Tanager here in central Greeley, Weld County.  He stopped by the suet and was in a Linden Tree that is just leafing out.

Linda Martin

Greeley