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--001a114e19b0cb7bdc054a89336c Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Agreed Donna Feeders are probably helping the early returns though we are seeing regulars chickadee junco and tree sparrow but robins must be elsewhere. We had a flock of some sort of waxwing at the Rosa multiflora and I've been wondering what birds are using these long lasting fruits. I read that waxwings specialize in small fruirs. Peggy Crawford I think had the same visitors or maybe evening grosbeak in her multiflora spinney last month. Logs in all stoves today! Nick On Mar 12, 2017 1:06 PM, "Donna Crossland" <dcrossland@eastlink.ca> wrote: It really was a popular day yesterday at the feeders (and similar today). None of us, feathered or otherwise, are accustomed to the sudden drop in temps and high winds that were experienced since it=E2=80=99s been a pretty= smooth coast for most of the winter. I dove into the woods to get out of the biting winds yesterday afternoon. It=E2=80=99s amazing what a difference f= orests makes on a cold windy day. Glad I don=E2=80=99t live on the prairies. The sap sucker was back at the suet feeder. He=E2=80=99s very predictable = when the temp drops. For a while, my feeder area was very colorful with a male and female cardinal on the ground beneath, and the gorgeous red flashes of the male sapsucker feeding from the last bit of suet low to the ground. I made up a fresh batch of suet with black oil sunflower seeds mixed in (delicious) and hung it out to ensure everyone had a rich caloric intake to get through the cold afternoon and night ahead. I made a second batch this AM, and the chickadees immediately began to vocalize the news of the new suet being hung in a sheltered spot. Similar to Marg=E2=80=99s observations, there are no purple finches around,= but I have gold finches a plenty. Considering what purple finches consume, I suspect the population will be extra low for a while, aside from its usual irregularities as a winter feeder visitor and its reported declines elsewhere from House finch invasions. I was observing air photo imagery under DNR=E2=80=99s Harvest Plans Map Viewer a few days ago. It is clear t= hat we are flattening nearly all the remaining mature conifer forest in NS that would have supplied much of the natural sources of seed. With 55 year harvest rotations set up on Crown land, it=E2=80=99s not certain what natur= al food supply will remain for the next while. Trees need time to mature before producing any significant quantity of seed. It=E2=80=99s a dire situation = we are creating for wildlife. Meanwhile, the =E2=80=9Cfield and roadside junco an= d goldfinch crews=E2=80=9D seem perfectly fine. I=E2=80=99ve heard valid and science-based criticisms against maintaining b= ird feeders through the years, and how this can do more harm than good for birds. We know the feeders can spread diseases if we don=E2=80=99t sanitiz= e them, and they can set birds up for easy predation. It=E2=80=99s perhaps mostly = a selfish pleasure watching birds at feeders, I suppose, bringing nature closer to us. But with the sudden removal of food sources normally obtained from forest resources, I wonder if perhaps it=E2=80=99s more accep= table for the next little while. Other thoughts, opposing or otherwise, are welcome. Donna On 11 March 2017 at 13:31, Marg Millard <mmillard@eastlink.ca> wrote: Today has been interesting for us in that we have been visited by both a Fox sparrow and a Woodcock! We only see them once in awhile and the last time was during that big fallout a couple springs ago when we had many feeding here as we had grass. The regulars are here in varying numbers. They include Mourning Doves, not in the thirties the past week or so but close to 20 by times, Blue Jays, a few Starlings, numbers are climbing, must be a dozen or so now. There are Red-winged blackbirds, male and female/junveniles. One was calling from the swamp, another from our ash tree, the other day. We have Juncos, Sparrows; song and white throats, Chickadees, a larger than normal group of American Goldfinches, Nuthatches, what appears to be a pair and a spare in the white breasteds, and a red breasted. We have a family of big crows that are usually about the area and several who seem to be setting a nest in a tree down the road in a big pine tree. Maybe teaching youngsters? I don't know. The strange small Grackle hasn't been seen since last week's wind. Steve saw a Barred owl in our Ash tree when he returned from bowling Wednesday evening. We still have a solitary Robin. This may sound strange to some but could this be a Robin who was born here, stayed several winters with us, finally had a mate, and offspring. It went away for awhile but always would come back early and let us know it wanted the apples set out. The behavior is so similar it is hard to think it isn't the same bird. Even taps on the studio window for fresh apples. There are a number of Woodpeckers, both Downy and Hairy. I heard a flicker in the distance but haven't seen one. What is noticeably missing from the mix are the purple finches, both Chipping and American tree sparrows and Grackles in general. No Sapsucker and no Red head Woodpeckers. My snow drops are up (very late) and wanting to bloom but they are pretty peaked. I had a Vole (initially I thought it was a mouse but was corrected when I posted a photo to Facebook). Last week after all the snow it dug its way up through the snow (viewed like an ant farm) against the studio window, to snooze in the sun atop the snow drift. Makes me very glad to see the snow drops at all. I know something is hunting the neighbourhood, but which I am not sure. I see the frozen stance of the birds, all except the chickadees who will tackle a Sharpie and confuse it. Fascinating to see. it is chilly and breezy here but sunny at times so that is nice. Marg White Point Artist, Marg Millard 19 White Point 2 Rd., White Point, Queens Co., R.R. # 1 Hunts Point, Nova Scotia B0T 1G0 Canada (902) 683-2393 LocalArtistMargMillard.ca By Appointment, please --001a114e19b0cb7bdc054a89336c Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"auto">Agreed Donna=C2=A0<div dir=3D"auto">Feeders are probably = helping the early returns though we are seeing regulars chickadee junco and= tree sparrow but robins must be elsewhere. We had a flock of some sort of = waxwing at the Rosa multiflora and I've been wondering what birds are u= sing these long lasting fruits. I read that waxwings specialize in small fr= uirs. Peggy Crawford I think had the same visitors or maybe evening grosbea= k in her multiflora spinney last month.</div><div dir=3D"auto">Logs in all = stoves today!</div><div dir=3D"auto">Nick</div><div dir=3D"auto"><br></div>= </div&