In regards to the feeder birds, I've had one male Cowbird, at most 2 Juncos, but none of my other normal winter birds. I haven't seen a WT or WC Sparrow yet, and I usually have at least 3. The Juncos are way down in numbers for me as well; I normally have 10+. Haven't seen a single Goldfinch, and they usually empty my 24 port feeder in a week. I do have a rather great influx of other birds. The normal 10-15 Mourning Doves has jumped to 30. At least 2 pairs each of Titmice and Chickadees (normally only see one or two). And the House Finches...lucky to see a pair, but I've got a dozen, mostly males it seems. My others I see regularly are of the same numbers...Cardinals, Blue Jays, Robins, Starlings, House Sparrows, Downy Woodpecker. Nicole McClure Lexington, KY ________________________________ From: Lana Hays <lhays2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: KY Birdlist Birdlist <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tue, December 14, 2010 7:53:52 AM Subject: [birdky] Sandhill Cranes and Feeder Birds Coming home from school yesterday I watched about 25 Sandhill Cranes fly over the road heading west just before I turned down my road. It's only the second time that I've ever seen Sandhill Cranes in this area.....the other time being this past fall. At the feeder Sunday morning I saw some birds that at first I thought were Cowbirds.....but upon closer inspection realized that they definitely were not Cowbirds. I'm pretty sure that they were Rusty Blackbirds....a first for me. I continued to put out seed, nuts, fruit, and homemade suet all day. The homemade suet was the first of the season but I've been feeding the rest all along. I only have one White-throated Sparrow coming in addition to the regular Titmice, Cardinals, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Carolina Wren, etc. I had Juncos (which came late this year) and only one White-crowned Sparrow earlier as well.......but they have disappeared. This is puzzling to me as I've always had them as regulars.....and more when it snows. On a side note.....I spent the week in New Mexico at Thanksgiving. I birded Bosque del Apache and the Magdalena Mountains. It was so nice to get back there. I've posted images from the trip on my website if anyone is interested. Lana Hays Walton, KY www.lanahays.com ================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS============= The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign your messages with first & last name, city, & state abbreviation. -------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx -------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx