Monday, December 16, 2019
Missing the Birds
It's been a full five weeks since we've had any interesting birds visiting our feeders. I thought we were doing well to get the feeders up with the first snowfall in early November with these birds quickly showing up, but alas they've stayed away ever since. I'm hoping they'll come back soon 'cause they're fun to watch!
The Blue Jays came first, digging the peanuts out of the feeder and flying away to hammer them open and eat the peanuts inside.
Then we were really excited to see a Red-bellied Woodpecker, one we've rarely seen before. I was really hoping it would come back all winter.
The Downy Woodpecker did show up a few times. The small red spot on the back of the head shows that this is a male. In the past we've had big flocks of Goldfinch, and regular visiting Juncos as well as the Chickadees and Nuthatches. Where are you!
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I'm seeing very few birds compared to normal. It is scary!
ReplyDeleteI work with Cornell Feeder Watch and they told me that sometimes there will be times when fewer of a species show up. I had tons of goldfinch one year and then only two the next! Be patient and they will return.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same down here in PA. There are reports that the bird population in North America is down by 30% -- hope it's not true, but ...
ReplyDeleteI just brought mine in to thaw them out. Between freezing rain and heavy wet snow then a sudden drop in temperatures, they were a solid, inaccessible block.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me there are fewer birds as well. I find there are more birds when there is more snow. Have also found they seem to travel in flocks as well. I've seen nothing going on at the feeders and then all of a sudden a there's a swarm of Juncos, Black Capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, a few Nuthatches as well as Woodpeckers and Cardinals. It's like a traveling bird circus and ten minutes later they are all gone again. Doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the feathered frenzy.
ReplyDeleteIt is fun to watch the different birds that show up.
ReplyDeleteDon't have bird feeders at our new place, they draw the bears.
You feed the top of the line food. The birds will be there.
ReplyDeleteI would love to feed our birds but so many feeds have nuts and my little girl is allergic. Any ideas?
ReplyDeletei am surprised FG, is it possible you have a hawk in the area and the blue jays have alerted everyone??
ReplyDeletei have gone weeks with no birds when the hawks are around, but they all come back eventually. i hope that is the case for you!!
I don't put out feeders any more, but when I did, there was never any shortage of birds. I see lots of them around feeders in my neighborhood. I do hope your pretty birds will return soon. :-)
ReplyDeleteThose to me are unusual birds, we try to buy bird seed once in a while when our budget allows and it's neat to see them feasting on the goodies.
ReplyDeleteDebbie might be correct in this case.
ReplyDelete