FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Lincoln's Sparrows, hummers, weather, and food supplies

["Brainard Palmer-Ball, Jr." <brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Some misc. things from recently ...

I was working around the Indian grass fields on our family farm in eastern
Jefferson County yesterday afternoon and tallied a new state high count for
Lincoln's Sparrows -- AT LEAST 20! One of the neat things about birds is
seeing the patterns that emerge as data are gathered.  This count for
October 2, 2004, eclipses the previous high count of 17 from the Falls of
the Ohio at Louisville area made by Ken Able on OCTOBER 3, 1964.  Similar
matches in peaks of migratory counts of birds, as well as early and late
arrivals, are typically the rule rather than the exception and never cease
to entertain and amaze me.

Regarding hummers . . . I wonder if anyone still has them coming to feeders
WEST of the hurricanes Frances/Ivan paths, where vegetation is becoming
tinder dry and most natural flowers have wilted?? There are some
interesting maps around at several sites on the internet showing the vast
discrepancy in recent rainfall between east and west.

Last week I was in Muhlenberg County and the 5 or 6 Red-breasted Nuthatches
that came in to some pishing at just ONE spot suggests it will be a great
year for them again this winter. However, the white pines in our yard here
in Jefferson County have NO cones, probably a response to the drought a
couple of years ago. And our American holly has hardly ANY berries on it.
Makes me wonder about natural food supplies for some of the winter
irrupters that may appear this year . . . will they just go farther south? :o(

bpb, Louisville
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