Birds?
I saw a few Robins taking shelter in a holly tree. I bet it is the snow.
I was driving around a bit- Maplewood, South orange, Millburn, Livingston. Saw 1 pigeon on the street in Millburn - nothing in the sky.
It was interesting. I'm guessing with all of the snow on branches it may be hard to land anywhere? I'm sure the ones who are flying around would tend to figure out a way to a feeder.
They're all stuck on the train getting to work. They'll be around as soon as they arrange childcare.
I was out on floods Hill earlier with my daughter sledding. They're were a couple of Turkey vultures circling overhead, I guess they were waiting for a bad injury.
I had several mourning doves lined up on a sunny area of the yard, on the snow, but fluffed up and warm. I put out some birdseed for them, and their buddies. The sparrows were all inside the hedges this morning, so I tossed their food in there and I could see them moving around to get it. They cope well.
I drove to Livingston and back and didn't notice many birds, however, at (and under) my feeders today we saw: pigeons, mourning doves, juncos, grackles, starlings, house sparrows, house finches, blue jays, a nuthatch, a mockingbird, a red-bellied woodpecker, a downy woodpecker, and so many cardinals. The mockingbird is newly arrived, but the others have been here all winter, along with a few we didn't see today, like black-capped chickadees, and goldfinches, and Carolina wrens. Have not seen the juvenile Cooper's Hawk (I think?) that likes to hunt at my feeder today, but did see her on Saturday!
finnegan said:
I drove to Livingston and back and didn't notice many birds, however, at (and under) my feeders today we saw: pigeons, mourning doves, juncos, grackles, starlings, house sparrows, house finches, blue jays, a nuthatch, a mockingbird, a red-bellied woodpecker, a downy woodpecker, and so many cardinals. The mockingbird is newly arrived, but the others have been here all winter, along with a few we didn't see today, like black-capped chickadees, and goldfinches, and Carolina wrens. Have not seen the juvenile Cooper's Hawk (I think?) that likes to hunt at my feeder today, but did see her on Saturday!
We seem to have the same crowd at our feeders but I haven't seen any goldfinches or wrens and I'm just preparing to hang my wren house for those doing early house hunting. I'm above Wyoming in South Orange.
The goldfinches are either all female, or their winter coat really changes to a dull brown with just a tinge of yellow. And they hang out in crowds of house swallows, so I only notice their distinctive wing pattern occasionally. And the Carolina wrens I hear more than see, but still they occasionally like to spend poking around in the few plants left in pots on the back porch, and picking up seeds on the ground. We are in Maplewood, near the village. A wren house sounds intriguing!
I had the same observation as OP last year in early fall. Driving out I 78 to I 81 there was almost no sign of bird activity until I reached the Virginia border. I thought I was experiencing something that was of little importance, but still wondering if this has become serious.
Anyone else experiencing this observation, or have I been overlooking some kind of environmental phenomenon? Keep your eyes open and stay alert while traveling.
There are fewer insects and fewer birds.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2018/11/27/magazine/insect-apocalypse.amp.html
finnegan said:
The goldfinches are either all female, or their winter coat really changes to a dull brown with just a tinge of yellow. And they hang out in crowds of house swallows, so I only notice their distinctive wing pattern occasionally. And the Carolina wrens I hear more than see, but still they occasionally like to spend poking around in the few plants left in pots on the back porch, and picking up seeds on the ground. We are in Maplewood, near the village. A wren house sounds intriguing!
I've used two kinds. I think the first was too small but for two years I had families. It can be used a second time during the summer. The male starts shopping early and picks out more than one site building the beginnings of several nests. Then the concert begins. I tend to get protective and worry that he will find the right girl. When he captures her attention, she will investigate assorted home sites and chose her favorite. She then with great exasperation and drama tosses out most of his furniture arrangement and adds her personal touch. I took apart the house to clean at the end of the season and counted over 500 pieces. Even though she may break many twigs in half that is still over 250 trips into the woods. He guards her and helps and when she settles in he will sing his small heart out and bring her food, even after the hatchlings appear.
The second house is deeper and I felt more comfortable. If you are a bird lover, check out my thread The Uncaged Bird under Pets and Animals. I change the sub title to announce various alerts such as Time to Hang Your Hummingbird Feeder or an alert for Global Big Day.
finnegan said:
Wow! Thanks. Gotta get a wren house!
Best Nest has them.
https://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=WDL-WREN1
We have a pair of wrens that regularly nest in our yard. They like to hang out on the seed bell outside our dining room window.
luigi said:
I saw two pileated woodpeckers in the reservation on Saturday!
I only saw one once on my street. I got a very dark picture. Did you manage to get a photo?
Sweetsnuggles,,
I just caught up with the article you posted. Holy Cow! It is long, but after scanning it, my own observation seems to be confirmed.
In the 1960s my family often drove to the shore on summer weekends. I vividly remember the windshield being so caked with insects after this drive that it was a mess to clean each time. This doesn't happen any longer. The obvious answer is that the amount of insects has become almost completely gone, not that windshields have changed that much.
Now I'm wondering if this effect has also caused larger changes in the numbers of birds and other fauna in general. The point I get from the article is that this is a long term phenomenon that is hard to track and has somehow glided under the radar of most observers.
Thanks for the article.
I was just driving around- didn’t see one bird.
Maybe because of snow falling from the trees?