Words On Birds 03-24-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

Waterfowl Attracting Birders to Newbury
March 24, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     What are people looking at along Scotland Road in Newbury? A frequent question these days as commuters see anywhere from one to twenty birders lined up near the west end of Common Pastures near the Greenbelt’s Wet Meadows property. Many have spotting scopes fixed on the fields.

     Some curious people stop and ask the participants. The short answer is “ducks.” The fields are often flooded this time of year and attract scores of waterfowl. The shallow pools and wet grasses provide good feeding habitat for the dabbling ducks like mallards and black ducks. The big attraction is the less common ducks among the usual flocks.

     Some of the closer pools provide excellent views of the stunning male pintails and their mates. Multiple pairs can be seen here. This year there are forty or more green-winged teal. The males are handsome with green and rust colored heads. They have a diagnostic white vertical shoulder stripe, easily seen from a distance. Among all these teal is a rare Eurasian or common teal from Europe that has a white horizontal stripe.

     Also less common are the first blue-winged teal of the season. Only one to three individuals have been present so far this past week. The handsome male has a white crescent in front of the bill. There have also been a few American wigeon present as keen birders look for the more rare Eurasian wigeon. Sometime colorful wood duck or northern shovelers may be found.

     The muddy, grassy areas of these fields traditionally attract Wilson’s snipe. These long-billed, stripe-headed shorebirds are just arriving to the area and more than a hundred may be hidden in the fields in the weeks ahead. The Wet Meadows also attracts other shorebirds such as yellowlegs, pectoral and least sandpipers, and black-bellied plovers. Often time the shorebirds and even the ducks are hard to see among the many tufts of grass throughout the fields.

     In the drier areas of the fields are the killdeer and American robins. Their numbers are building as more appear during spring migration. American pipits are also seen in the shorter grasses, bobbing their tails as they walk along feeding.

     A special treat in these fields is sandhill cranes stopping on their way north. These fields have been a stopover for cranes migrating north to New Hampshire and Maine in past years. Here in Massachusetts, some cranes do nest in Plymouth County and others in western part of the state. We have yet to see them nest here in Essex County.

     As the weather warms, swallows may be seen feeding over Wet Meadows. Great blue herons and great egrets will feed in the pools as spring progresses. Red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures nest nearby and can frequently be seen hunting the fields. Harriers and kestrels use to nest here, and can usually be seen during migration. Other songbirds present include bluebirds, red-winged blackbirds, brown-headed cowbirds, mockingbirds, catbirds, chickadees, titmice and downy woodpeckers.

     The best viewing is from behind the gate entrance to the last field, or from the Wet Meadows viewing platform just before that. The platform is dedicated to H. Lawrence Jodrey and Gerald Soucy, two birders who frequented the Common Pastures area and were ardent supporters of conservation efforts here and the Essex County Greenbelt. When you visit, bring binoculars, as many of these birds are close enough to see with them. A scope helps, but if there are other birders there, as there often are, most are happy to share their scopes and share the amazing birds that are found here.

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 03-17-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

Bird Houses Attract a Variety of Species
March 17, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     Last week, I talked about putting up bird houses for bluebirds and tree swallows, but there are a number of other birds that will appreciate a man-made nesting box. Any bird that nests in a tree cavity might take to a bird house. These include woodpeckers (downy, hairy, red-bellied and flickers), as well as chickadee, titmouse, nuthatch, Carolina and house wrens and house finch.

     Other birds such as great crested flycatcher, kestrels, screech and barred owls, wood ducks and hooded mergansers might occupy a larger nest box. Purple martins nest in colonies and will occupy multiple cavity houses and gourds. Of course, the invasive house sparrows and starlings may take over a bird house intended to attract one of our native birds.

     Our spring robins are arriving and though they normally build a nest in trees, they sometimes nest under decks and on top of light fixtures on a house. They will sometimes nest on a nesting shelf, which had an open side for easy access in and out. Eastern phoebes are also starting to return to our area and may also take to a nesting shelf. They often nest under eaves of a shed or garage. Phoebes are early nesters and usually return to the same place each year, building a new nest right on top of the old one!

     There are reports of Carolina wrens starting to nest already and they will nest in many different odd places. They have been known to nest in mail boxes, in hanging plants, in clothes pin bags, in flower pots in garages, and under upside down kayaks and canoes that have been stored for the winter. They will also nest in a bird house. House finches also commonly nest in hanging plants, but they, too, can be coaxed to a bird house.

     The small house wren will arrive in May and the males will begin filling houses with sticks, only to let the female choose which house she prefers. They will take readily to a hanging house, and their entrance hole need only be about an inch in diameter. Such a small size hole will exclude most other birds. The house wren may also take over houses with larger entrances that were meant for bluebirds or chickadees. The wrens can be aggressive by tapping holes into the eggs that other birds lay in a bird house.

     Chickadees, titmice and nuthatches will fit in a house with a 1 1/8-1 1/4” hole, but they, too, might occupy a larger entrance house meant for a bluebird or tree swallow. The smaller downy woodpecker can also use that size entrance. The hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers need a larger house with a larger entrance hole (which a downy woodpecker might also occupy) and the flicker needs even larger accommodations.

     Purple martins are at the northeastern edge of their range and are mostly coastal in our area. Their multi-family houses are large, need to be put up twelve to fifteen feet high in open areas, and require much more maintenance than most bird houses. House sparrows and starling are a constant threat, so accessibility to the house is important to be able to control these pest birds from taking over. A ladder may be necessary or a means to lower and raise the house is required to check on the nests and to remove the unwanted intruders.

     Tree swallow houses are much easier to deal with. They nest in the same house as a bluebird and only need to be mounted five to six feet high You can put multiple houses in close proximity to attract more swallows. Since they are of the same family as purple martins, they too will eat large numbers of flying insects.

     The declining kestrel population in our area is a good reason to put up a kestrel box if you have the right open habitat for one. Screech owls use the same size box as a kestrel and will nest in more densely populated areas. If you have a pond or other wetland, wood ducks will also use a nest box designed for them.

     Depending on the habitat you have, there are many opportunities for attracting birds with bird houses. In return, these birds may entertain you with song and many help naturally control the insects in your yard or garden!

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 03-10-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

Bluebirds in Search of Housing
March 10, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     Bluebirds are already checking out nesting boxes in area towns. They are one of the earliest nesters, often starting their first brood in late March. Now is the time to put up a nesting box or clean out existing ones. Bluebirds have two and sometimes three broods in a season, so if they don’t move in right away, you might still attract them later in May and June.

     For the best chance to attract bluebirds you’ll want a nesting box designed for them. Though there are many different styles, most have a 1 1/2-inch opening that is about five or six inches above a four-inch square floor. Some have wood extensions, or predator guards, over the hole to help deter squirrels, raccoons and large birds. Metal plates around the hole help prevent squirrels from chewing and enlarging the hole. If you plan to monitor the house during the nesting season, you should have one that is easy to open with minimal disturbance to the nest. Bluebirds like an open area for feeding, so placement of bluebird houses should be in or near grassy areas. It is best to place the house on a separate pole away from the tree line, preferably with a baffle on the pole. Direct placement onto a fence post or tree can also be successful, but sometimes more difficult to discourage predators. Bluebirds are territorial so multiple houses must be placed 200-300 feet apart to encourage multiple pairs to nest.

     The male, along with female, will go house to house, inspecting for possible occupancy. Soon, they will establish a nesting territory around their chosen home and nest building will begin. The female will construct the nest in about five days with little help from the male. The female will also do all the incubation once their four to five eggs are laid – the male has no brood patch. The male may sometimes “spend the night” in the cavity with the female.

     The female will incubate the eggs for about two weeks. She will leave the nest only a few times a day to find food. Once the eggs are hatched, the male will bring food to the female and young during the first few days.

     Bluebirds hunt crawling insects like hawks. They will perch on a stick, low branch or fence post and wait for an insect to show itself. The bluebird then goes to the ground and pounces on its prey, and brings the food back to the nest.

     If you want to attract bluebirds with food, or help them during the nesting process, you can provide mealworms, live or dried, in a feeder in proximity to the nesting box. A readily available supply of mealworms will create less stress for the female that leaves the nest in search of food and will help the male provide a more readily available source of nourishment for his mate and offspring. Feeding mealworms will help increase the success rate for nesting bluebirds, and other birds as well, in your yard.

     The young bluebirds will fledge in fifteen to twenty days. The adult birds will continue to feed the fledglings, though the young will be able to find food on their own in about two weeks. Since bluebirds may have multiple broods, sometimes young from the first brood will assist in feeding the young from the second or third brood. This may continue into the fall and the “family group” may linger into the following spring season.

     Another key to attracting and keeping bluebirds is to provide water. A heated birdbath may attract them through the late winter or a shallow bath during the warmer months. Planting shrubs and bushes that produce berries also provides a natural food source for bluebirds, especially during the colder months when insects are not available.

     So the key to attracting bluebirds to your yard is to have potential nest boxes, food and water. We can’t help but feel good when a pair of bluebirds take up residence in our yard!

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 03-03-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

March is a Crucial Month to Feed Birds
March 03, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     This time of year is particularly hard on many birds, especially the songbirds that depend on seed and fruit for survival. The winter supply of natural food is depleting and there is more competition for what is left on shrubs and trees. Birds are seeking more food at bird feeders.

     Yet we see so many bird feeders empty. There is the misconception that the weather is getting milder and, therefore, birds can fend for themselves. The nights are still cold and the sudden storms that March can produce put added stress on birds. Being able to supplement their natural food with seed and suet at feeders is very welcomed this time of year. It can sometimes mean the difference between survival or not.

     In a National Wildlife Federation newsletter, George Harrison wrote: “March is the most difficult month of the year for birds to find adequate food to survive winter in most of North America. That’s because the supplies of natural food … last year’s seeds, fruits, berries and insect eggs and larvae … are at their lowest levels after months of birds feeding on them. March is too early for a new crop of seeds, fruits, berries, and insects to be available. Therefore, birds have to work harder to find sufficient food during a month when it is still very wintry in much of the country.

     “That’s why March is the best time of the year to feed birds in the backyard. They will respond more readily to feeder foods offered in March than at any other time of the year. Isn’t it curious that in fall … October and November … when natural foods are most abundant, people take the greatest interest in feeding birds? It is in fall when there are the greatest number of bird seed sales, bird feeding seminars, bird store sales, and start-up backyard bird feeding efforts. By March, the interest in bird feeding has waned, at a time when the birds need it most.

     “Though birds are not dependent on feeders for their survival (studies have shown that birds glean 75 percent of their daily food from the wild, even when feeder foods are available), feeding them in March will make life a little easier for them, and under severe conditions, may even save them from starvation.”

     The birds may not be showing signs of stress. Many are sounding more joyful as spring nears. The spring song of cardinals, chickadees, house finches and song sparrows in the morning lifts our spirit for spring’s arrival. The first red-winged blackbirds and grackles are arriving and their less-melodious songs also remind us that warmer weather is near.

     Great horned owls are still hooting back and forth to each other in courtship and some are already on the nest. Red-tailed hawks are courting and will be starting early nests as well. Soon screech owls will be courting and begin nesting in the weeks ahead.

     Bluebirds are already checking out nest boxes. Now is a good time to check your old nest boxes and make sure that they are clean and ready for habitation. Now is also a good time to put up a new bluebird box as bluebirds do start nesting in March if the weather cooperates. This gives them a jump on the tree swallows that often compete for the same nest box. Tree swallows don’t arrive until late March or early April.

     Chickadees, tufted titmice and nuthatches are also early nesters and it is good to make sure that you have houses ready for them soon. Phoebes will be arriving in March and they often return to the same eaves or nesting shelf that they occupied last year. They often will build another nest right on top of the old one.

     If you look closely at the finches at your feeder, you might notice a little extra yellow in the male goldfinches already. It will be April before they change completely into to their handsome breeding plumage, but it is already starting. They provide further evidence that spring is not far away!

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 02-24-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

Hints of Spring Dashed by Snow
February 24, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     As we enjoyed the milder temperatures earlier this month, the early signs of spring were teasing us. Flocks of red-winged blackbirds have been arriving already and, although some may think they are early this year, they are right on time. Flocks of blackbirds always arrive in mid to late February, and it seems that we almost always have snow after their first arrival. It is strange to hear the “konker-ree” of redwings singing on territory in the marshes where grasses that aren’t even green yet.

     A few brown-headed cowbirds and common grackles have been mixed in with the flocks of redwings. A number of people have reported the grackles at feeders. As more grackles arrive in late February and March, you’ll want to dust off your grackle deterrent feeders. The complaints of grackles overtaking the seed and suet feeders will soon surpass the complaints we receive about squirrels.

     Other early spring birds have been trickling into the area. Three killdeer were seen on the Topsfield Fairgrounds and others have been spotted in agricultural fields in several towns. Wood ducks have been seen on Plum Island as well in Groveland, West Newbury and Topsfield.

     Another early spring bird, the American Woodcock, has already been heard making their distinctive “peeent” call at dusk in the fields of West Newbury and Rowley. Their calls could be heard in years past as one drove off Plum Island at sunset, but not this year. This year the Refuge is now closing an hour before sunset and ushering everyone off before the sunset hour can be enjoyed. Birders have heard the woodcock’s twittering display ritual in the evening at the Rough Meadows property in Rowley.

     We were thrilled a week ago when we had bluebirds checking out the bluebird house in our yard. There were two males and a female, and one of the males kept going in and out of the house. Soon it sat on the roof as the female also peeked inside. Don’t know if they approved, but they are likely the birds that nest in a neighbor’s yard not far way. Two pairs have continued to visit as we put out more mealworms, live and dried, and a few suet nuggets for them. They also seem to enjoy the sunflower hearts that we serve to many of our birds.

     Another special sign of early spring were the crocus flowers that were covering the ground in one area of the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary one day this past week. They had just blossomed, as a friend told us that they were not visible there the day before. Despite these hints of spring, we still have New England weather reminding us that winter is not over.

     As we walked the sanctuary, and as we travel down Plum Island or visit other conservation areas we can’t help but notice how little food is left on trees and shrubs. Winter’s bounty of seed and fruit is being depleted, perhaps because of the numbers of birds that have remained in the area all season. They say that March and April are THE critical months to keep birds feeders filled to help birds supplement their natural food.

     This week’s snowstorm has brought even more birds to the feeders. Along with the usual crowd of cardinals, goldfinch, siskins and juncos, we now have a flock of 28 red-winged blackbirds. It is not so bad, especially with our usual jays, nuthatches, and various woodpeckers always visiting. The Carolina wrens, chickadees and titmice are now singing their spring songs and four bluebirds help to remind us that spring is still coming!

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 02-17-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

Steller’s Sea Eagle Back in Maine
February 17, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     If you read my column about the “Bird of the Century” back in December of 2021, or picked up any newspaper or listened to national news, you learned about the amazing Steller’s Sea Eagle that was visiting North America. This rare eagle from eastern Russia and Japan appeared in Alaska, then Texas, then eastern Canada earlier that year. In December, it made its appearance in Massachusetts and birders arrived in Dighton by the hundreds to view this rarity.

     Unfortunately, it flew north shortly after 1pm that day, not to be seen in Massachusetts again. It was discovered weeks later in Eastern Maine but was allusive in a remote area, sometimes only accessible by boat. The bird disappeared again, only to spend much of 2022 in eastern Canada again.

     The bird was rediscovered a few weeks ago back in eastern Maine, in a more cooperative area near Georgetown, north of Portland. Less than a two-hour trek from Newburyport, many local birders have made the journey to see this magnificent eagle. Doug Chickering was one such birder and he shares with us visit with us:

     “It was truly a magic moment. We were on the bridge and directed to find the house on the other side of the marsh and then move up and to the left. I followed instructions and saw a black patch and a bright white spot. Surely this was the sea Eagle. Then I looked through an offered scope and it was a transformation. There in the bright and crystal-clear morning was the Steller’s Sea Eagle in perfect light and pose. Seemingly filling the eye, the black and white combination, the epitome of bright and dark were pure and deep. And then there was the beak, large, formidable and brilliant orange in the sun. It was a striking sight.

     “We were a long way from the perched bird, but I doubt we could have had a better view, even if we moved closer. Also, at the bridge we had five, maybe more Bald Eagles. One was perched fairly near the Sea Eagle, probably under some kind of truce.

     “It was my first life bird for over a decade, which added to the thrill of seeing it. Later in the day our little band had quite good looks at the Harris’ Sparrow. All in all, one of the highlights of the winter. I hope getting a Life bird for your first write-in might be a good omen. And it won’t be long before we yearn for spring.”

     Thereafter, closer to home, Doug experienced another encounter with eagles more familiar:

     “It was just after a nice dawn with a shimmering deep red sun wandering up in the sky. Tom Wetmore, Steve Babbitt and I were up on the deck at Parking lot One in the refuge looking for birds. As usual. At some point Steve announced that he was on an Eagle flying over the Merrimack river bridge and heading this way. That eagle turned out to be two eagles. Flying high and occasionally gliding. To me they seemed hardly menacing. But there were others who had a different reaction. As they approached the birds in the salt marsh rose up in a noisy but orderly series of flocks, Almost exclusively Canada geese and Black ducks there were also some Mallards, and Gulls and perhaps some other ducks. One thing was certain, they had seen the eagles and now they just wanted to get out of the way.

     “It was February. Deep winter. The marsh grass was brown and brittle. Many of the shallow pools were iced over. There were snow piles here and there. It looked empty and dead. And then suddenly an abundance of bird life rose as one and filled the air with sound and controlled panic flying. I was as surprised as much as I was filled with wonder. We had spotted a few heads and swimming birds in the marshes. We knew there were birds there. We thought we had a pretty good idea as to how many. Still we found the sight to be awesome. It made me wonder if perhaps there are times in February when there are more birds present than in the middle of July.

     “A few days ago I was thrilled at the sight of the Stellers Sea Eagle. Today, even though the birds were more prosaic the sight of them rising out of the salt marshes like an apparition was also thrilling.”

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 02-10-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

Birds Struggle To Survive Cold
February 10, 2023
by Steve Grinley

     Last week’s cold snap was a struggle for many of us. The minus 11 degree reading overnight at home was the coldest I can remember in my lifetime. Our home’s heating system couldn’t keep up with the record low temperature.

     It was also particularly hard on the birds. They seem to know when a front is approaching as they flocked to the feeders in the days before, fueling up to sustain them through the worst of it. It seems that they can predict the weather with more certainty than our best-trained meteorologists. We had tens of pine siskins and goldfinches taking up every available perch on our finch feeders and devouring the sunflower heart seeds as fast as we could fill the other feeders.

     Birds are supplementing their natural food with the seed and suet at feeders. The availability of feeder-food makes it a bit easier for them, especially right after a storm when natural seed supplies may be covered with snow or caked in ice. Rain and snow can be blown horizontally and then freeze and clog the best of feeders. Scrape away any snow or ice, especially from the perch areas and around the feeding ports on the feeders. We also have to scrape the ice off the suet and hanging seed cakes.

     In addition to seed and suet, you can put out some fruit for the fruit eating birds including robins, bluebirds and mockingbirds. We put our mealworms for our Carolina wrens. If you have plantings in your yard such as crab apple, winterberry or holly, cedar waxwings or wintering hermit thrushes or catbirds might also feast on the natural fruit. I recall a couple in the area that once had a western tanager eating apple, oranges and sunflower hearts at their feeders, and this western visitor survived a nor’easter with their help.

     If you have a heated bird bath, many birds will flock to it as fresh water becomes more unavailable with these frigid temperatures. Even birds that don’t normally visit feeders may take advantage of the open water. Our titmice and goldfinches are particularly fond of our heated bath.

     In the depths of a long, cold New England night or at the height of a storm, birds seek shelter wherever they can find it. Some choose thickets, brush piles, evergreens, rhododendron, or other sheltering shrubs and trees. Some will crowd into cavities in trees, building and other structures to keep warm.

     You can help the birds by putting up roosting boxes or roosting pockets where birds can huddle to stay warm. Birds also use nesting boxes for roosting, so if you have bird houses around your yard that you have left up for the winter, these will provide added shelter at night for the birds. You can add dried grasses, cotton, or dryer lint to the boxes to add further insulation for the birds.

     A West Newbury resident had a bird-cam in one of her bluebird nesting boxes that she monitored during the spring and summer. She kept the nesting box up during the winter but had rolled up the cord from the camera to store from the winter. She saw the bluebirds checking out the box one frigid week and decided to hook the camera back up to her TV. Because the camera had infrared, she could watch what transpired in the house at night.

     The first night, five bluebirds were jockeying for position in the bird house, fighting one another until two got expelled. She watched the remaining three bluebirds hunker down for the night. She watched the next night and all five bluebirds came to terms, huddling together in the one box. They must have figured out that the body heat of five was better than three!

     When we watch our feeders after a frigid night, or after a storm goes by, we realize that the storm may have taken its toll. But the numbers of birds seems to remain fairly constant. It is always great to see our regular visitors emerge after a cold night or storm to partake of the seed and suet that we always provide.

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 02-03-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

This Superbowl is For the Birds!
February 03, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     Last Saturday was the Superbowl of Birding XX hosted by Mass Audubon. Twenty-four teams scoured Essex and/or Rockingham Counties (or specific towns or locations) in search of the most species they could find in twelve hours. One such team was led by Steve Mirick of Bradford, MA. Steve shared details o their exciting day:

     “Yesterday, Jane and I joined up with Paul Lacourse and Kurk Dorsey for the “Superbowl of Birding” sponsored by the Joppa Flats Education Center of Massachusetts Audubon. This is the 20th anniversary for this competitive event. The event is a fun way of beating the winter cold and getting out and finding birds in Essex County, MA and Rockingham County, NH. Our team name is the “4th and Longspurs”. As we have done in the past years, we participated in the category of “Rockingham County, NH only”. A weighted valuation system determines the winner, where the rarity of the species determines the number of points awarded.

     “The winter thus far has been incredibly mild and with very little snow. The day’s weather continued this trend with partly cloudy skies and temperatures starting in the upper 20’s, but rising to about 49F in the afternoon. Perhaps the mildest weather we’ve ever had for this event. Moderate to strong SW winds in the afternoon created some difficulty with trying to get a few late day songbirds and trying to pick out birds in the choppy and wavy ocean.

     “We changed things around a bit this year and decided to try for owls in the Great Bay area and this worked out very well with 3 owl species. We managed to hoot in a Barred Owl off the rail trail in Newmarket, and got both Screech Owl and Great Horned Owl in Greenland. My original strategy was to walk the Portsmouth Country Club at dawn, but I changed this at the last minute and decided to work Exeter at dawn. We got to the Vulture roost before dawn, so we waited…..and waited….but could not pick out the Black Vultures. So we gave up and decided to work some neighborhoods.

     “This worked out well and we managed to get many of the regulars including Northern Flicker, a Pileated Woodpecker, and a nice flyby Merlin near Paul’s house. Plus we got our scouted Hermit Thrush which hadn’t moved from the bush we saw it in less than 24 hours earlier. The big surprise was when we stopped at a feeder where 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers had been reported to us. We missed the sapsuckers, but got a flock of Turkey Vultures accompanied by at least 2 BLACK VULTURES! I’m wondering/thinking that they didn’t use the usual roost site that night.

     “Continuing on, we managed Hooded Mergansers and a Belted Kingfisher along the riverfront in Exeter, but dipped on the Great Blue Heron. A quick stop at the Exeter WTP (WHERE WE DID NOT ENTER) yielded an Iceland Gull and Lesser Scaup with a spotting scope from the parking lot. We missed Red-shouldered Hawk in town, but I decided to do a “drive-by” along Rt. 101 and we picked up an adult near the Guinea Road overpass. For some reason, the Red-shouldred Hawks like this area over the years!

     “We headed up to Stuart Farm in Stratham where we only managed to get Savannah Sparrows as a new bird, but Chapman’s Landing gave us a quick Bald Eagle and Common Mergansers. At the Great Bay Discovery Center we didn’t get much, but while taking a bathroom stop, I hooted a Barred Owl, and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker flew in!! We headed to the Portsmouth Country Club next, where I had previously warned the team that we were in for a long walk out to the point. This spot (which is open to the public) is currently snow free so easy to walk, but still a long walk and over a 1 hour time commitment for a Superbowl effort. Fortunately, we managed to get both the EURASIAN WIGEON and the Wood Duck that had previously been reported…but we missed the Gray Catbird.

     “The Great Bay Farm was our next stop where we picked up White-crowned Sparrow, but the nice surprise was getting the nearby WESTERN TANAGER as a drive-by! Not even needing to get out of the car as the bird was (still) feeding in the big apples along Ocean Road in Greenland.

     “Now…the stupid Greater White-fronted Goose. Two teams had already reported it, so we drove around and around (and around) trying to find it. We even went around the traffic circle to the liquor store where there were geese, but no luck anywhere. Then we dipped on the Swamp Sparrows…just too windy. We got permission to view a Wilson’s Snipe in Portsmouth, and coincidentally, THREE teams converged on Stuart Varney’s house at the same time. And we all managed to see the snipe before it ran back into the swamp!

     “Heading to the coast, we quickly got most of the basic birds, and also managed a Northern Harrier at Odiorne, THE continuing King Eider, and continuing DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT south of Odiorne. We took a detour to some neighborhoods where we MISSED the scouted Pine Siskin and Fox Sparow, but pulled in a clutch Palm Warbler that had previously been reported at the Hampton Wastewater Treatment Plant. We finished the day at Hampton Beach State Park where we got the Dunlins, Snow Buntings, and Horned Larks, but missed out on the Longspur and Sanderlings.

     “We ended up with a new team record of 86 species, beating our previous high of 84 species set in 2014 and 2020. We had FOUR 5-pointers (1 for 8-points) and added THREE new species for our all-time Superbowl list which now stands at around 157!!! We finished with winning the Rockingham County award for the most species reported in Rockingham County!”

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 01/28/23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

Feeding Winter Birds Help Them Survive – and Reproduce!
January 28, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     A study in Ireland more than a decade ago suggested that feeding birds in winter not only helps birds to survive harsh weather, but it also enables them to have a more successful breeding season. In an experiment, birds that supplemented their natural diet with bird seed at feeders laid their eggs on average 2.5 days earlier than birds at the “control” site. They produced the same number of chicks, but 80 percent of the fledglings of the feeder group fledged, compared to a 60 percent fledgling rate for those birds that depended solely on natural food supplies.

     The paper, which appears in Biology Letters, published by the Royal Society in Britain, states: “The extra food we put out for birds contains fat, protein and carbohydrates, which may make the female bird stronger and more able to produce eggs. Foods like peanuts and bird seed also include vitamins and minerals which can also produce healthier eggs and chicks.”

     It can be harsh here in winter in New England and feeding birds certainly help them survive. Birds that have stayed the winter or migrated from further north to feast on natural seeds and fruit in our area are finding that the winter supply of natural food is being depleted. A number of birds that don’t normally stay the winter, or that may be here accidentally, are particularly helped by seed and suet at feeders.

     A rare, western tanager continues in Greenland, New Hampshire These bright yellow and black birds look out of place, and they are, as they seldom venture east of the Mississippi. Though this bird seems to be surviving on natural fruit, I recall one in Rowley a number of years back that was feeding regularly on sunflower hearts at a feeder. A Middleton couple have had an oriole coming to their feeders for several weeks. Feeders will help these and other unlikely winter visitors survive the cold and snow. These birds may survive feeding on sunflower meats and on suet, supplemented by what fruit they may find.

     Bluebirds continue to be reported from many areas including West Newbury, Rowley, and Salisbury. Several customers are feeding mealworms to the bluebirds to help supplement the fruit that they are finding. Carolina wrens are also being fed mealworms, and I’ve seen wrens on suet feeders many times.

     As the natural supply of seeds dwindles, with ash, birch and pine cone seeds being depleted, more of the winter finches are visiting feeders to supplement their diet. Goldfinches and pine siskins, and are showing up more regularly on thistle and sunflower feeders. Purple finches are also appearing at sunflower feeders. The availability of seed at feeders helps reduce the stress and the energy expended in finding food for many of these birds, and it may mean the difference in surviving our harsh winter.

     The same is true for so many of our resident birds that take advantage of our feeders. The chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, cardinals, blue jays, mourning doves, sparrows and woodpeckers all benefit from the seed and suet that we provide and it helps them make it through the cold winter months.

     And if that British study holds true, those birds that partake of our offerings and survive, may have a more successful breeding season come spring!

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply

Words On Birds 01-20-23

Posted on by bwsg

Words On Birds by Steve Grinley

Where Are the Blue Jays?
January 20, 2023
By Steve Grinley

     Folks have been commenting on the lack of blue jays at their feeders this season. This decline has been particularly noticeable in New Hampshire and a thread of “where are the blue jays” has been running for the past week on the New Hampshire Birds listserve. Most comments described dramatic declines and many total absences of the jays.

     Dr. Pamela Hunt is NH Audubon’s Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation Pamela Hunt offered the following explanation:

     “Blue Jays cleared out of much of NH this fall because there was a poor acorn crop. Despite the fact that we see them all year, Blue Jays DO migrate, and the ones we have in winter might not be the ones we have in the summer. However, the extent of their movements is strongly tied to mast crops like beech and oak, and more move out when nuts are scarce. I recall seeing some quite large flocks this fall while birding here in Concord, and in many cases these migrating birds were earlier than the usual earl/mid-October schedule. Somewhere to our south birders are seeing more jays then usual as we’re seeing fewer.”

     The same sort of thread concerning the decline of blue jays in Massachusetts also appeared on the Massbird listserve. Many people had fewer numbers of jays but there were fewer complaints of a total absence. One extreme case was voiced by Karen Idoine:

     “Last year we had well over a dozen Bluejays coming to our feeders almost every day – occasionally more than twenty! This year, zero. Not a single one. Our house sits in a meadow of several acres surrounded by woods, and the largest Audubon sanctuary in Massachusetts, plus state forest and wildlife management areas are contiguous with our conserved land.

     “Needless to say this feels disconcerting.

     “Mostly, we have the other regulars: juncos, chickadees, woodpeckers, titmice, nuthatches – and squirrels, although numbers of these birds seem decreased as well. Could we be witnessing the results of avian flu? Or, have our resident pair of Red-shouldered Hawks put a dent in the population? Could the warmer than usual weather play a role? The dearth of acorns? Perhaps all of the above?”

     Paul Roberts of Medford offered the following explanation:

     “Hi Karen,

     “I think the answer to your question is “yes!” All of those might be factors. but I would tend to put the most emphasis on the absence of acorns. The failure of the mast crop this year, a cyclical issue. The oak forest in which I walk almost daily has NO acorns. (My wife walks in a patch a mile plus away and has lots of acorns, but anecdotal reports from Connecticut, New York, and other parts of Massachusetts suggest we’ve had a terrible year for mast, which sustains Blue Jays, squirrels, and many small rodents that are fed on by Red-tailed Hawks,and other hawks and owls, as well as foxes and coyotes.

     “In the past I have routinely seen dozens of squirrels daily, often several dozen within 100 yards, going to my walks. And I would see road-killed squirrels everywhere, as they cross roads looking for buried acorns. That decreased about two years ago, as the population had apparently reached a peak with a significant “die off” over the past two years and reduced breeding success this year (and possibly last.) I’ve seen far fewer Red-tailed Hawks this year, and especially this winter…

     “Talking with several Saw-whet owl banders recently, they had a decent migration this fall but have found very few wintering birds in their areas in western New England yet. And few signs of deer mice. Where I walk, a pair of resident Bald Eagles love roadkilled squirrel (with mild Chipotle sauce) and routinely look for the easy meal in winter, to my chagrin. (They can easily be hit by speeding cars, as Barred Owls and Saw-whets often are.) I’m less worried this winter.

     “A decade ago we had tremendous acorn crops, and an explosion of small mammals and of the predators that prey on them. I think we hit record levels of Gray Squirrel and Red-tailed Hawks (and likely Chipmunks and Cooper’s hawks) in the metro-Boston area. Acorn production was high again several years ago, but the past two years have not been good, especially this year with the widespread, prolonged, and severe drought in much of eastern New England, and especially within 100 miles of Boston.”

     I do admit that I see fewer blue jays flying over Routes 1 and 1A from Essex to Newburyport. However there seems to be no decline in our backyard. We have a consistant four to ten blue jays visiting daily. That might be because of the line of peanuts along the deck railing that Margo provides each morning!

Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net 
978-462-0775 
https://birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com

Celebrating 27 years of service to the birding community! 
Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/birdwatcherssupply