Birdnotes: Bird Notes ~ February 23, 2008

Bird Notes

Ready, Set, Go!

The northern migration of birds has already begun. Several reports of REDWING BLACKBIRDS and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS have been reported at feeders north of us. The first TURKEY VULTURE of the season was spotted flying north over Rt. 7 in New Haven, VT on 2/19.

. . . And not to forget the hibernators. In our yard here in W. Brattleboro the first Chipmunk and Raccoon have made an appearance. The Hamiltons on Rt. 9 have reported a Bear coming for bird seed. So be aware. The bears are waking up!

CEDAR WAXWINGS and PINE GROSBEAKS are still eating crabapples at the tree on Greenleaf Street across from the Jewish Synagogue. A BARRED OWL sat in the pine tree near our feeder on Sunday afternoon and was still there at dusk. That same morning a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK landed on our feeder for an instant, looked around and flapped off into the woods.

So, be on the lookout. Between now and the first week in March watch for these migrants: American Kestrel, Killdeer, Robin and Common Grackle.

* * *

Barred Owl Sightings and Casualties are Up

(as reported by the York, Maine Center for Wildlife)

Every winter the Center for Wildlife admits several injured owls - usually about six or eight. So far this year, we have admitted 36 owls -33 of them barred owls! Every indoor cage is full, every outdoor enclosure occupied - some with two or three owls! The staff and volunteers stay busy for long days keeping everyone clean and fed, and CFW vet Dr. John Means of North Hampton Animal Hospital gives up a lunch break or two every week to examine owl eyes and fractures. And more owls are coming in almost every day!

Why so many owls this year? Well, every winter we see owls hit by cars, many of them first-years. In fact, an estimated 85% of owls do not survive their first difficult winter. Even for these phenomenal hunters, winter is a desperate time of year. Many rodents (an owl's major food source) hibernate or den up for days on end, and the ones who are active can hide under snow. So the food gets scarce just when owls burn extra energy keeping warm and therefore have increased appetites. Plowed roads seem like an attractive hunting spot to an owl whose hunger overcomes her fear of busy traffic, and many are hit by cars. This year is especially difficult for owls because a late spring freeze in Canada killed many plants last summer, resulting in a major population crash for seed-eating rodents like the red-backed vole. Canadian owls rely on these voles for winter meals, and the scarcity of prey drove them to migrate south - some to Maine - when winter came. Now, Maine's owl population is way up, so the winter food shortage and heavy snows are matched with increased competition. As desperation drives these owls to hunt in the roads, many are hit by cars. Those who survive sustain fractures to wings and legs, eye injuries and head trauma. Thankfully, concerned rescuers continue to amaze us in their willingness to answer the call of duty, donning gloves and scooping the owls into boxes for transport to the CFW. . .

2008 Great Backyard Bird Count for West Brattleboro, VT

Species [taxonomic]	Number of Birds	Number of Checklists Reporting the Species
Wild Turkey	28	1
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1	1
Barred Owl	1	1
Downy Woodpecker	2	1
Hairy Woodpecker	1	1
Blue Jay	1	1
American Crow	3	1
Black-capped Chickadee	12	1
Tufted Titmouse	3	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	2	1
American Robin	1	1
Northern Mockingbird	1	1
Cedar Waxwing	37	1
American Tree Sparrow	1	1
Dark-eyed Junco	8	1
Northern Cardinal	2	1
Pine Grosbeak	2	1
American Goldfinch	1	1
House Sparrow	4	1
Total	111