Words On Birds 02-27-26

 

     With a couple of feet of snow on the ground, we forget that meteorological spring starts this Sunday and the vernal equinox, true spring, is only three weeks away! Wintering eagles are still here – we counted eight sub-adults in Salisbury the other day and six were along the banks of the Merrimack “sharing” carcasses.  Meanwhile, our adult local eagles are tidying up their nests and will be on eggs before too long. Great horned owls are also starting to nest in the area, taking over red-tailed hawk nests before the hawks claim them.

 

     Winter juncos, tree sparrows and white-throated sparrows are still scratching bare spots for morsels of food. The goldfinches are still in their winter plumage and flocking to finch feeders. A few evening grosbeaks and purple finches are still showing up at sunflower feeders.

 

     A small flock of red-winged blackbirds visited our yard yesterday and their territorial “conk-a-ree” call can already be heard at various wetland locations. Many customers have reported redwings at their feeders already and even a few folks have reported grackles and cowbirds arriving. Though I can always predict with much certainty that these “vanguards of spring” will be soon hit with the harsh reality of another New England late winter storm, especially this year, they do, non-the-less, insist in forcing us to think about spring.

 

     Then there are the spring and summer birds that have over-wintered and many, somehow, have made it through – at least this far. A chipping sparrow continues to visit a feeder in Georgetown and a less common clay-colored sparrow spent the winter at feeders in Peabody. A pine warbler spent the winter in an Ipswich neighborhood and is already turning a brighter yellow color. An orange-crowned warbler has been enjoying suet from several homes in a Lynn neighborhood.

 

     An eastern towhee and a couple of hermit thrushes have survived the winter on Plum Island, at least thus far. A catbird was also reported throughout the winter up until a few weeks ago. Some thought it could be due to the bird seed that has people have put on the ground near plowed parking lots. It looks like an act of kindness, though it is more likely that a photographer put out seed to “get the shot” from the comfort of a vehicle. The seed is spread on areas where cars drive and people walk and creates more problems than it is helping. 

 

     The Refuge has regulations prohibiting feeding birds and other wildlife, and for putting bird seed out for birds. They are under the belief that there is ample food on the refuge. Many other wildlife refuges put out supplemental food for wildlife under controlled conditions, as do most Audubon Sanctuaries. Our Refuge, under previous management, use to have bird feeders at their headquarters building as an educational tool for visitors. In earlier years, they had feeders on the refuge itself. 

 

     Late winter and springtime are the most important times to feed birds. There are fewer other food choices for birds when natural winter supplies have dwindled and run out. Natural seeds have been consumed throughout the winter leaving returning birds with slim choices. New natural seed crops won’t happen until summer and early fall, so feeding birds now will help sustain them until the warmer weather brings insects.

 

     Continuing to feed birds during the spring and summer does not interfere with “nature”. Birds will continue to use feeders to supplement what natural food they find, and you then have the opportunity to observe their most interesting activities-mating, nesting and raising their young. Spring feeding is also an environmentally safe way to control insects in your yard. Bluebirds, wrens, and woodpeckers will consume caterpillars, ants and mosquitoes, reducing the need to use other, less friendly means to control these insects in your yard and garden.

 

     It may seem premature to think about spring today, but it is only weeks away and the spring migrants are already arriving. Feeding them, and providing fresh water for them during these late days of winter will help them. Numerous studies have been done regarding the benefits to birds by providing them supplemental food and I have detailed these in past columns. Anyone who feeds the birds can feel good that they are helping birds survive, and even thrive. However, spreading seed around arbitrarily, in places that might harm birds, or in places where it is prohibited, is not the way to do it.