OK, Birdwatchers...what's going on?

[tcreeley]

Sounds like the cold blasts have been disrupting normal routines and sending some of the birds scrambling for food in different locales.
-like a cardinal but brown- look at Tufted Titmouse, or the different jays from further west (stellar's etc). The warmer weather of the past winters has encouraged birds to not travel as far south- may be getting stuck this year too far north & birds that headed south may headed back up looking for warm pockets with the recent cold blasts. Bluebirds and robins are pretty tough- often arriving in Maine in early March while temps freeze every night. Robins will winter over eating buds and berries here in Maine- hanging out in towns near streams and houses where it is warmer.
We have had cardinals in our area (used to be unheard of- when temps were colder) this winter, and they nest here now. I am curious to see if there is a "die-off" with the colder temps we've had this winter, in contrast to past winters.
The snow buntings are in the potato/corn fields- flocks of 30-50. They only come down in cold years. Funny to think of this as where they go to avoid the cold of the north!

 

[lockhaven]

cardinals are expanding their range not because of warming but because of habitat. Northern Cardinal, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

[npalen]

Could very well be starlings. I didn't think they had that much black but the speckled pattern sure looks similar. Used to have lots of starlings that would hang out in the silo years ago back on the farm. They were considered a pest.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Could very well be starlings. I didn't think they had that much black but the speckled pattern sure looks similar. Used to have lots of starlings that would hang out in the silo years ago back on the farm.

They were considered a pest

.

I know my Dad, who was born and raised on the farm didn't like them. He said they "pecked holes in the backs of the cattle". I don't know where he got that idea, but he believed it.

 

[npalen]

Your dad probably knew what he was talking about. I'm amazed at the knowledge my Dad had that was probably passed down thru the generations. Can you imagine no internet to get needed information?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Your dad probably knew what he was talking about. I'm amazed at the knowledge my Dad had that was probably passed down thru the generations. Can you imagine no internet to get needed information?

Funny you should bring that up. I was just discussing this with my wife; it seems you can find info on the internet in a matter of minutes, that a few years back would have required a visit to the library and a considerable amount of research.

 

[tcreeley]

cardinals are expanding their range not because of warming but because of habitat. Northern Cardinal, Life History, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Northern Cardinal
View attachment 354585 Breeding Bird Survey data range map.
Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter

View attachment 354590The number of northern cardinals captured in Manomet's fall banding season has steadily increased since 1970 and peaked in 2012. Cardinals, like other species, are extending their range northwards in response to climate change.
The data are corrected for the number of nets and number of hours they are open. the annual number of northern cardinals captured is displayed as a proportion of seasonal catch in relation to highest year. - See more at: Partnerships for Sustainability: A semi-annual publication of Manomet

......"The response of birds to climate change across species and habitats has been unmistakable. Bird enthusiasts and scientists alike have reported easily observable northward shifts in range.

Manomet researchers can draw significant conclusions from the increased captures, especially when compared to complementary data from various sources across the state. Mass Audubon's Breeding Bird Atlas, the North American Breeding Bird Survey and annual Christmas Bird Counts all show similar changes.

Mass Audubon's 2011 State of the Birds Report confirms the expansion of various southern species including southern forest dwelling birds, including the Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren and Northern Mockingbird northward across the state with the warming climate and increased urbanization. In fact, urban dwelling southern species are experiencing the highest gain in abundance amongst all habitat groups, with a 10 percent annual gain according to the Breeding Bird Survey. A comparison of Mass Audubon's Breeding Bird Atlases from 1979 and 2011 supports this data, showing a 400 percent gain in distribution for southern urban nesting species across the state since 1979.

An analysis of Christmas Bird Count data finds that southern species have not only increased in distribution and abundance, but have also increased in winter population size since 1980. Turkey Vultures have increased by 26 percent, Carolina Wrens by 15 percent, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers by 21 percent. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have colonized more than half of the state of Massachusetts since 1979, increasing in northward distribution and abundance according to the Atlas and Breeding Bird Survey respectively.

A comparison of the 1979 Atlas and the 2011 Atlas shows a 560 percent increase in 10 species of southern forest dwelling birds, including Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

In its 2011 report, Mass Audubon concluded that "the impacts of warming are particularly evident for birds that formerly occurred only south of Massachusetts or were at the northern edge of their range in the commonwealth."

"If you look at Manomet's capture data, along with data from Mass Audubon's Breeding Bird Atlases, the Breeding Bird Surveys, and the Christmas Bird Counts, you see strong evidence of a significant shift in northern distribution and increased abundance of southern species in the state," said Lloyd Evans.

- See more at: Partnerships for Sustainability: A semi-annual publication of Manomet

 

[npalen]

We see in our backyard here in North Central Kansas:
Sparrows (lots of them
Robins
Nuthatch
Cardinals
Bluejays
Bluebirds
Finch
Wrens
Humming birds
Hoot Owls
Grackles
Starlings (I think)
Red headed wood peckers
Purple Martins (actually lodge in our neighbors facility)
Mourning doves
European doves
Blackbirds
And whatever I'm forgetting

 

[farmgirl19]

I know my Dad, who was born and raised on the farm didn't like them. He said they "pecked holes in the backs of the cattle". I don't know where he got that idea, but he believed it.

Starlings change hues with the seasons. Males have yellow beaks, and more black, with a nice sheen, during breeding season.

As far as poking holes in the backs of cattle.... Before the days of decent parasite control, cattle used to get parasites under the skin of their backs. Some kids used to take Coke bottles and place over those places, and slap down on it real hard, and the parasitic worm would pop up and splat on the inside of the bottle.

Since Starlings love worms, and "bugs", it is possible they were picking out those parasites, instead of someone going along and squeezing them out. Either way would leave a hole.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Starlings change hues with the seasons. Males have yellow beaks, and more black, with a nice sheen, during breeding season.

As far as poking holes in the backs of cattle.... Before the days of decent parasite control, cattle used to get parasites under the skin of their backs. Some kids used to take Coke bottles and place over those places, and slap down on it real hard, and the parasitic worm would pop up and splat on the inside of the bottle.

Since Starlings love worms, and "bugs", it is possible they were picking out those parasites, instead of someone going along and squeezing them out. Either way would leave a hole.

I was one of those kids that liked to pop those grubs out of the backs of cattle. I don't think todays plastic bottles would do the job though