Begin forwarded message:
> From: "Carol Bretz" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Mon Mar 02, 2009 01:14:53 PM US/Eastern
> To: "'James Dolan'" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Birds seen in Bretz backyard on 02-28-09 and 03-01-09
>
> New Waterford, Ohio – old DeLorme block 53B7NW
>
> 02-28-09 – 17 species - *2 Rusty Blackbirds (1st sighting in 2009),
> Juncos, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Crows, Black Capped Chickadees, Titmice,
> Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Goldfinches, *25+ Pine
> Siskins, 2 *Red-winged Blackbirds, House Sparrows, *5 White-winged
> Crossbills, (1st year juvenile, male, and 3 female feeding on hemlock
> cones in the trees and on the grown), 1st year White-crowned Sparrow,
> female House Finch, Mourning Doves . The Rusty Blackbirds feed at two
> platform feeders that hang from my clothesline. The Red-winged
> Blackbirds also feed at these platform feeders.
>
> On Saturday afternoon I ran errands and returned to New Waterford on
> Creek Road, (Old DeLorme 53A6SE). After I crossed the bridge over Bull
> Creek I observed a large (200+) mixed flock of about 50% RW Blackbirds,
> 45% Starlings, and 5% Rusty Blackbirds in the cornfield on my left.
> The field has wet areas and the birds were foraging in the corn
> stubble.
>
> 03-01-09 – 21 species (Bretz backyard again) – *3 White-winged
> Crossbills (two female and one male), *25+ Siskins, *Brown Creeper,
> Titmice, BC Chickadees, Downy WP, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Goldfinches,
> Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, *2 Rusty Blackbirds, *1 Brown-headed
> Cowbird (1st sighting for 2009), Juncos, Crows, WB Nuthatch, *5 RW
> Blackbirds, Song Sparrow, 1st Year WC Sparrow, House Finch pair,
> starlings. Titmice pair was courting.
>
> The Crossbills are constantly on the move and hang upside down on the
> Eastern Hemlock branches feeding on the cones and then move to the
> ground to feed. Siskins will feed with them on the ground but prefer
> the feeders with the hulled sunflower seed. The Crossbills first
> arrived on February 15 and were observed by Jim Dolan and Jim & Becky
> Kerr, and Bob & Denise Lane that p.m. There were 25+ present at
> midafternoon. They were evident first thing on Monday morning (Feb
> 16), but nowhere to be seen when I arrived home Monday afternoon.
> There are a number of Eastern Hemlocks and Norway Spruces on my
> property. These conifers are loaded with cones; perfect for these
> northern visitors. The Crossbills and Siskins showed up back in the
> late 1980’s. This is the first winter since then that I have observed
> them in my New Waterford yard.
>
> I observed my first Turkey Vulture of 2009 in flight over my pines
> about 6 p.m. on 02-25-09. Last spring I would often see up to 11 of
> them perched in and near a large Black Locust first thing in the
> morning in March and April. They often roosted in my pines at night
> throughout the summer and fall, but I did not find evidence of nesting
> in 2008. CFB
>
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