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Hi Eric and all,
These observations and those of others on the list about the abundance of
Juncos are very interesting. It seems to me there are two possibilities. The
first is that the recent snow and freezing rain made their food resources
inaccessible, and they headed to those places where humans removed the snow
and ice, namely driveways and roads. In addition, Juncos are known to be
highly social during the winter months and form large flocks as a foraging
strategy under severe weather conditions. The second possibility is, as you
suggest, that Juncos moved to Nova Scotia from another area. There is no
field evidence that Juncos migrate in the winter but one study of captive
Juncos in 1987 demonstrated the existence of migratory restlessness in
Juncos under conditions of food shortage through December up until
mid-January. This led to the theoretical conclusion that Juncos may continue
southward migration, depending on environmental conditions on the wintering
grounds, until about mid-January.
John
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]
On Behalf Of Eric Mills
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2018 17:12
To: Nature NS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Subject: [NatureNS] Junco abundance
Today, January 20, my son Chris and I drove from Brier Island to the
Bridgewater area and to my home in Lower Rose Bay, Lunenburg Co., Our route
was along Hwy 217 on Long Island and Digby Neck, along 101 to the Bear River
turnoff, then across country via Bear River and the Virginia East Road to
Hwy 8, thence south to South Brookfield and Hwy 208, then W to Hwy 325 and
south to Bridgewater and beyond - very roughly 220 km in total.
There were Juncos along the whole route, going up from the roadsides in
groups of 2-3 to more than 100 at a time. Our total was many hundreds, and
likely in the thousands. I have seen numbers like these along that route in
October, but January is most unusual.
Circumstantial evidence for sure, but I have no doubt that these birds are
new arrivals in the province, probably related to stormy weather during the
past few days in New Brunswick. Our feeders in Lower Rose Bay seemed to
attract high numbers starting about the 16th or 17th, coinciding with the
last snowfalls.
Eric L. Mills
Lower Rose Bay
Lunenburg Co., NS
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--></style></head><body lang=3DEN-CA link=3Dblue vlink=3Dpurple><div =
class=3DWordSection1><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Hi Eric and all, =
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>These observations and those of =
others on the list about the abundance of Juncos are very interesting. =
It seems to me there are two possibilities. The first is that the recent =
snow and freezing rain made their food resources inaccessible, and they =
headed to those places where humans removed the snow and ice, namely =
driveways and roads. In addition, Juncos are known to be highly social =
during the winter months and form large flocks as a foraging strategy =
under severe weather conditions. The second possibility is, as you =
suggest, that Juncos moved to Nova Scotia from another area. There is no =
field evidence that Juncos migrate in the winter but one study of =
captive Juncos in 1987 demonstrated the existence of migratory =
restlessness in Juncos under conditions of food shortage through =
December up until mid-January. This led to the theoretical conclusion =
that Juncos may continue southward migration, depending on environmental =
conditions on the wintering grounds, until about =
mid-January.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>John<o:p></o:p></span></p><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><span =
style=3D'mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><di=
v style=3D'border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm =
0cm 0cm'><p class=3DMsoNormal><b><span =
lang=3DEN-US>From:</span></b><span lang=3DEN-US> =
naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] =
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Eric Mills<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, January 20, =
2018 17:12<br><b>To:</b> Nature NS =
<naturens@chebucto.ns.ca><br><b>Subject:</b> [NatureNS] Junco =
abundance<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p =
class=3DMsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div =
id=3Ddivtagdefaultwrapper><p><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Today, January 20, my son Chris =
and I drove from Brier Island to the Bridgewater area and to my home in =
Lower Rose Bay, Lunenburg Co., Our route was along Hwy 217 on Long =
Island and Digby Neck, along 101 to the Bear River turnoff, then across =
country via Bear River and the Virginia East Road to Hwy 8, thence south =
to South Brookfield and Hwy 208, th