FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Fox Sparrows in Smithville

["Tommy Curtis" <tcbirdwatch@xxxxxxxxxx>]

From reports posted already we think this must be Fox Sparrow Day in Tennessee. 
 Just after daylight this morning I cleared away the snow on several large 
areas of our yard and put out food and one Red Fox Sparrow came almost 
immediately.  This is the first Fox Sparrow in our yard since November 23.  
Later in the morning this one was joined by a second and this afternoon a third 
showed up to add his beauty and scratching dance.  Combined with the huge 
number of White-throated Sparrows - at one point Virginia counted over 40 of 
them - their activity has been nonstop except when the Common Grackles, 
European Starlings, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds swarm in 
and scare the sparrows into hiding.  We even had American Crows coming to the 
feeders during the day.  Food must be scare this winter.  
An observation about the Fox Sparrows.  We never see them in our yard unless 
there is snow and/or extreme cold.  Do others find this to be true in their 
yards?  We assume they are around all winter but do not come to the yard unless 
there are circumstances which cause them to seek additional food sources.  

Tommy & Virginia Curtis
Smithville, TN
DeKalb County
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