We seem to have fewer birds, but not by too much. This year we have more
woodpeckers (downy, hairy, red bellies) and nuthatches, fewer cardinal couples.
The goldfinches have only recently arrived. Still waiting on pine siskins and
pine warblers. Titmice and Carolina Chickadees are dominating the feeders here
this year. We have a wide variety of feeding options including sunflower seed
(shelled and unshelled), suet, seed blocks, meal worms, and loads of peanuts
(raw, unsalted that we crush by hand each morning). Once in while we give them
a treat with peanutbutter and crushed almonds. We use platform feeders, and
several hanging feeders. We also have a heated water feature that is very
popular. The feeders come in every night to keep the racoons and opossum out of
them. The squirrels have been discouraged this year via .22.
Cate Kauffman
http://ckauffman.faso.com/
www.mydoterra.com/catekauffman
On Jan 29, 2019, at 11:21 AM, Diane Wrick <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I have noticed the same thing. My feeders are empty many times and mostly have
cardinals now instead of the variety of birds. I think the amount of rain has
affected everything. The feed gets wet and can be hard to eat when it sits and
packs. I have seed balls out and the birds haven’t touched them.
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 28, 2019, at 4:48 PM, Harry Colestock <hcolesto@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Would agree that feeder numbers are generally down, but the birds seem to be
out there when you look. Lots of potential explanations--everything from more
competition for birds at feeders since more people are feeding them to
weather-related arrivals of certain birds. Up until yesterday we had no
Chipping Sparrows observed in our location. Yesterday, we counted 73 in three
separate flocks along the road. We also have a young Sharp-Shinned Hawk that
has been hanging around (one day on top of the multiple feeder structure).
Feeder birds have been wary of coming to the feeder unless we are out there
with them!! Then they sometimes flock in in significant numbers (30
Goldfinches, etc.) and then race off once something real or imaginary sets them
off. Bottom line: I would agree something is different from previous years,
but I can't say why.
HEC
From: nnasnet-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <nnasnet-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of
nkroll156@xxxxxxxxx <nkroll156@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2019 16:33
To: NNAS
Subject: [nnasnet] not much feeder excitement
A service of the Northern Neck Audubon Society---
I have been wondering if I have been missing posts to the listserve, or if like
me, folks are just not seeing much to report on.
Numbers at my feeder seem to be down. One red-Breasted Nuthatch, Five Purple finches, about a dozen Cedar Waxwings and an Eastern Towhee are the most interesting birds I have seen this month.
Nora Kroll
Bruington, King and QueenYou are subscribed to the NNASnet, a birding hotline
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