If you've been reading Ryan Brady's updates, you know it's been a really
exciting winter for Red Crossbills. So, I was thrilled to have some
success finding them doing more than just feeding on red pine cones last
weekend!
On Saturday 2/17, one pair was observed performing a courtship behavior
(bill sweeping) in a non-priority atlas block. While I couldn't get a
recording of call notes at that time, I returned on Sunday and made a
recording of call notes from what I believe was the same pair (saw same
courtship behavior indicative of probable breeding). These calls were ID'd
by the experts at Cornell as Type 2.
Later that same day, a female was seen carrying nest material (with a male
following closely behind) up into a white pine in a priority block. A
recording of that breeding pair was obtained and determined to be Type 4.
So far, this is the southernmost WI location of confirmed breeding for the
species during Atlas II.
I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that the late John Bielefeldt, who knew
the S. Kettle Moraine better than anyone, also confirmed nest building
April 1996 in Waukesha County during Atlas I.
Andrea Szymczak
Waukesha, WI
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