Officially, at least, Winter ended last Friday with the arrival of the Vernal Equinox at 0744 hours EDT, and Cary lawn mowers have already been operating. To be sure our Piedmont the winter birds are hanging around probably until some time in mid-April, but it is clear that the season is almost at an end. It is time to say goodbye to a good winter birding season at Cary BirdCam. We did very well for winter species in 2008-09. I recorded every species seen the previous winter (including Ruby Crowned Kinglets and Red Breasted Nuthatches) and observed a good-sized group of Pine Siskins and a Hermit Thrush who didn’t visit us in 2007-08. What is more, I recovered all the American Goldfinches who drifted away last summer. In terms of food preferences, a number of species (particularly the Siskins, Goldfinches, Nuthatches, and Bluebirds) responded favorably to peanut pieces which were widely rejected by my feeder birds in the summer and fall. Suet consumption was much lower than I observed during the spring and summer, although it is fast picking up. BirdCam was busy: I recorded 13,572 photos between the Equinoxes, or 75 per day. And 26 different species were photographed in that time. Goodbye Juncos, Siskins, and Kinglets...and all the rest. Thank you, and we'll see you in the fall!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Wrap Up On Winter Birds
Officially, at least, Winter ended last Friday with the arrival of the Vernal Equinox at 0744 hours EDT, and Cary lawn mowers have already been operating. To be sure our Piedmont the winter birds are hanging around probably until some time in mid-April, but it is clear that the season is almost at an end. It is time to say goodbye to a good winter birding season at Cary BirdCam. We did very well for winter species in 2008-09. I recorded every species seen the previous winter (including Ruby Crowned Kinglets and Red Breasted Nuthatches) and observed a good-sized group of Pine Siskins and a Hermit Thrush who didn’t visit us in 2007-08. What is more, I recovered all the American Goldfinches who drifted away last summer. In terms of food preferences, a number of species (particularly the Siskins, Goldfinches, Nuthatches, and Bluebirds) responded favorably to peanut pieces which were widely rejected by my feeder birds in the summer and fall. Suet consumption was much lower than I observed during the spring and summer, although it is fast picking up. BirdCam was busy: I recorded 13,572 photos between the Equinoxes, or 75 per day. And 26 different species were photographed in that time. Goodbye Juncos, Siskins, and Kinglets...and all the rest. Thank you, and we'll see you in the fall!
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