Hi All -
I wanted to provide a more regional perspective from here in north-central
Idaho where we have also been seeing and hearing about movements of
chickadees and other montane species. Notably a Chestnut-backed Chickadee
has made it to the Snake River plain near Boise (probably first record) and
nearby Lucky Peak in the Boise Mountains where they are irregular (usually
in leap years oddly enough). Also as in Oregon, folks have been reporting
flocks of chickadees on the move and in atypical habitat. This includes
good numbers of Mountain Chickadees and in addition Red-breasted and
White-breasted Nuthatches seem to moving lower. Also of interest and
perhaps more unusually Steller's Jays are appearing outside of typical
conifer forests and in flocks in active diurnal migration (but only the
usual number of Blue Jays so far). A few Clark's Nutcrackers have even been
reported in unusual locations but much less so than the preceding species.
This widespread movement involving a variety species to me hints of a
larger phenomenon and affecting a larger area than the fires, most notably
the drought extending from last winter into the breeding season in much of
the northwest. But as with the fire hypothesis this is of course pure
speculation.
thanks, Charles.
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, Idaho
46°43′54″ N, 116°59′50″ W
chaetura@xxxxxxxxx
--
Charles Swift
Moscow, Idaho
46°43′54″ N, 116°59′50″ W
chaetura@xxxxxxxxx
