Red Breasted Nuthatch absence

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Art Check

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Feb 2, 2026, 2:26:44 PMFeb 2
to Iowa Bird
Birders
This is a question more just out of curiosity than anything. Since the cold snap a couple weeks ago, I have not seen the red breasted nut hatch which has frequented my feeders since probably late August or early September. I’m sure that many things are possible, including maybe not surviving the cold snap amongst many others. Since I have never had one that has been in my yard for so long and so consistent as this one, I was curious what other others experiences have been and if they were still consistently seeing “their” visitors, which have been so regular this year
Thanks and just curious
Art Check
Nevada
Sent from my iPhone

Clayton Will

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Feb 2, 2026, 4:11:50 PMFeb 2
to Art Check, Iowa Bird
Hi Art,

The one or two at Iowa Arboretum feeders are here every day. 

Clayron Will
Madrid

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Steve Harvey

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Feb 2, 2026, 4:20:40 PMFeb 2
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They're still hangin' around our Clarke county feeders and water.  

steve
rural Clarke co.

Angela Battle

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Feb 2, 2026, 4:22:21 PMFeb 2
to Clayton Will, Art Check, Iowa Bird
Have you seen Sparrow Hawks around. I have several hunting my feeders for months..

A. Battle
Rural Clarke County

Amy Dobrian

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Feb 2, 2026, 5:18:17 PMFeb 2
to Angela Battle, Clayton Will, Art Check, Iowa Bird
I have had one coming to my suet feeder daily since early November.
Amy Dobrian
Iowa City

Merle and Marsha Hall

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Feb 3, 2026, 4:45:23 PMFeb 3
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We've had both Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches at our feeder all winter this year. We feed black oil sunflower seeds in a hanging platform feeder that has a suet feeder hanging below that. On the other hook hangs a small log that I've drilled holes in for peanut butter. So, I went out Friday morning to put out bird seed and get the log to fill. When I took the log back out, there was a Red-breasted Nuthatch on the suet. I thought he would fly away as I approached, but I got about three feet from him and he just kept pecking away. Since I was going to be hanging the log, I had started to hold it out in front of me. When he didn't fly, I just froze there and waited. In a moment, another one landed on the top of the hook. Next thing I knew, he flew down onto the log I was holding. The log was in my right hand which has a tremor and was shaking a little so he flew back to the feeder and looked at me. I steadied the log with my left hand and he flew back onto it and pecked away for 30 seconds or more while I stood there holding it. Then I think I took a breath or made a movement which must have startled him enough that he took off. Needless to say, it made for a pretty exciting and unexpected moment!

Merle Hall
Granger
Dallas County

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