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Posted by Rosemary Drisdelle Feb 8, 2008 |
In the past few years, I’ve seen a total of one Common Redpoll at my birdfeeders, and one Pine Siskin. This year, a whole flock of Common Redpolls made an appearance in January and they remain in the neighborhood, visiting both birdfeeders regularly, winging through the skies in a shifting mass that is constantly reorganizing itself, and sitting in the evergreens like Christmas decorations that never got put away. On one occasion I watched a Sharp-shinned Hawk plunge into their midst, but he caught nothing.
At about the same time, a flock of Pine Siskins arrived. At first, they were accompanied by a small number of American Goldfinches and even seemed to mix with the redpolls a bit, but when last seen, the siskins were foraging alone.
Add to this a flock of Pine Grosbeaks enjoying the rosehips at the corner day after day, and a report of White-winged Crossbills from another local bird watcher, and we have evidence of a winter finch irruption: winter finches have moved into eastern Canada from central regions where seed crops last fall were reportedly poor. Is it a superflight? The results of the Christmas Bird Count may tell us.
It’s sad to think we probably won’t have so much fun with the winter finches next year, but I’m enjoying them while it lasts—and wishing I could lure those White-winged Crossbills to my own feeders!
Are you seeing unusual numbers of winter finches in your area (or perhaps an unusual lack of them)? Start a discussion.