[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

More on winter finches (fwd)



Okay, so maybe a Pine Grosbeak is a bit much to hope for... JSR

------------------------------------------------------

Date:         Sat, 4 Sep 1999 20:36:09 -0400
From:         Jean Iron <jeaniron@GLOBEDIRECT.COM>
Subject:      Winter Finch Forecast



Dear Birdchatters,

This message was originally posted by Ron Pittaway on Ontbirds on 31
August. Several birders suggested that it be posted on Birdchat. Here are
Ron's best guesses about winter finches:

1. Pine Grosbeak: My spies in northern Ontario report very poor berry crops
in northeastern Ontario this year, including Mountain-ash (Sorbus).
However, Mountain-ash crops are better in northwestern Ontario. Since Pine
Grosbeaks are keyed to Mountain-ash, we can expect at least a moderate
flight into central Ontario (Algonquin Park) and perhaps well into southern
Ontario. When Mountain-ash berries aren't available, Pines feed on conifer
seeds (generally poor this year except cedar), ash (Fraxinus) seeds (some)
and they eat the buds of both conifers and hardwoods. Some winters in
Algonquin Park, they seem to survive entirely on tree buds. Pine Grosbeaks
also visit feeders where they love sunflower seeds.

2. Common Redpoll: Last weekend I assessed the catkin seed crops on White
and Yellow Birches in Haliburton County about 200 km north of Toronto. Both
birch crops are very poor on Canadian Shield of central Ontario this year.
I'm assuming that White Birch seeds are also low in northern Ontario. Since
Common Redpolls winter in the boreal forest when White Birch catkins are
loaded with seeds and there is little conifer seed as backup food, I'm
predicting a good flight of redpolls this fall and winter.

3. Other Finches: Both conifer and hardwood tree seed crops are very poor
this year across much of northern Ontario. Pine Siskins, Purple Finches and
both species of crossbills should be largely absent from the province this
winter. I'm not sure about Evening Grosbeaks, but with the lack of natural
foods they may leave too or take over your feeders!

4. The Red-breasted Nuthatch is also a conifer seed specialist and it often
irrupts south as do the boreal finches. Red-breasted Nutatches have been on
the move for more than a month. With the lack of conifer seeds this year,
Red-breasted Nuthatches will be rare in the forests of central Ontario
(Algonquin Park) and the boreal forests of northern Ontario this winter.

5. Caveat: Predicting bird movements and numbers is is both an art and a
science. I'm confident that the above forecast is at least as reliable as
any long range weather forecast, probably more so because it's based on
seed crops that won't change this year. Nevertheless, it'll be interesting
to see if the finches read this report and decide to prove me wrong!

Enjoy the birds, Ron Pittaway

Jean Iron
President, Ontario Field Ornithologists
9 Lichen Place
Toronto, Ontario M3A 1X3
Canada
jeaniron@globedirect.com

Web Page: www.interlog.com/~ofo


----------------------------------------------------------------

Joshua S. Rose
Duke University
Department of Zoology

jsr6@acpub.duke.edu
http://www.duke.edu/~jsr6/