[CT Birds] The changes within bird migration
Carrier Graphics
We all know that many birds migrate, but can we occasionally notice some of
these movements and changes in a daily way?
I think I just did so today.
In the past two days at my feeders, it seems the numbers of birds have dwindled
considerably. The numbers of Junco and White-throated Sparrow have been noticed
in half or less of their previous numbers of the last month. The daily Fox
Sparrow, 6 Blue jays, Song Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch and some others have
departed, eventually being replaced with other new species. This morning I saw
anew - a late Chipping Sparrow, and two Junco that were not here before with
various white markings on them . Ad to this, the numbers of Junco have doubled
once again from the last two days low, and I believe this is an example of out
with the old (birds that stayed here for awhile and have now departed south) and
in with the new (new birds seen just today that have arrived probably from the
north last night). Also, along with these feeder birds seen new today, are the
additional following in the yard. Many Golden c Kinglets, Several Yellow rump
warblers, one Hermit thrush and several red wing Blackbirds.
Migration is not often noticed much in a daily way, especially in a big way. but
occasionally it is. And I believe today I just witnessed a big change and
movement happen in my own yard.
Aren't birds so interesting?
Paul Carrier - Harwinton
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Sarah Faulkner
days, with the level of seed in my feeder barely moving at all. A week ago
I needed to refill on a daily basis and had a wonderful variety of bird
species. I'd been suspecting cats, shapies, or other predators... but for
five days? The only change in the last week, except for the probability of
migratory changes, was that I had changed seed in my feeder on Monday, using
some old stuff from last year instead of the newer bag I got recently....
and I was absolutely obsessing that the old stuff had aflatoxins and that I
was killing the birds (I emptied the feeder this morning and refilled it
with new seed, just in case). I'd like to think that I haven't been killing
off all the songbirds...
Anyone else seeing changes of this scale?
Sarah Faulkner, Collinsville
Greg Hanisek
This happens all the time. I get lots of calls andn e-mails from people who
fear some global event (or some personal failure on their part) has occurred
because they're not getting as many birds at their feeders as usual. In
fact, it's impossible to draw any wide conclusions over the short term from
what you observe in the minute dot on the planet that your yard represents.
However, if you keep careful recrds, what you observe over time can be very
useful. That's why eBird (a secure, searchable international database)
offers such potential for tracking bird populations and trends. If you enter
all the birds you see in your yard on a regular basis, your data will help
reveal long-term trends.
Greg
Joseph Budrow
Joe B
--- On Sat, 11/20/10, Greg Hanisek <ghan...@rep-am.com> wrote:
Jo-Anne Roberts
At my neighbor's house this morning I saw the normal Cardinals, Blue Jays, Downy Woodpeckers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Black Capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, White Breasted Nuthatches. What surprised me the most were the 2 dozen +/- Robins in her back yard! Oh, and a stray Male Ringed Neck Pheasant (the State stocks the woods around her house). I'm hoping he'll stay close enough to the house to avoid being shot this year.
Jo-Anne
Mansfield Center