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Here is some information relating to cone crops and expected
irruptions. I am not sure what the cone crop situation is in Nova
Scotia, but I would suggest setting up your feeders again if you have
taken them down.
Winter Finch Forecast 2018-2019
*GENERAL FORECAST:*This is an irruption (flight) year for winter finches
in the East. Cone and birch seed crops are poor to low in most of
Ontario and the Northeast, with a few exceptions such as Newfoundland
which has an excellent spruce crop. It will be a quiet winter in the
North Woods. Expect flights of winter finches into southern Ontario,
southern Quebec, Maritime Provinces, New York and New England States,
with some finches going farther south into the United States.Stock your
bird feeders because many birds will have a difficult time finding
natural foods this winter. This forecast applies primarily to Ontario
and adjacent provinces and states.Spruce, birch and mountain-ash crops
are much better in Western Canada. For the details on each finch
species, see individual forecasts below.
*PINE GROSBEAK: * This magnificent grosbeak will move south in moderate
numbers into southern Ontario and the northern states. The Mountain-ash
berry crop in the boreal forest of Ontario and Quebec is below average
and conifer seeds are in short supply. The feeders at the Visitor Centre
in Algonquin Park should have Pine Grosbeaks this winter. At feeders
they prefer black oil sunflower seeds. Also watch for them on European
Mountain-ashes and crabapple trees.
*PURPLE FINCH:* Purple Finches are now moving south out of Ontario. Most
Purples will have departed the province by December because seed crops
are poor on northern conifers and hardwoods. A few may linger at feeders
in southern Ontario where they prefer black oil sunflower seeds.
*RED CROSSBILL:* Red Crossbills will be scarce this winter. Watch for
them in pines. Red Crossbills comprise about 10 "call types" in North
America. The western types seen last winter in the East have probably
returned to their core ranges in western North America. Most types are
impossible to identify without analyzing recordings of their flight
calls. Recordings can be made with an iPhone and identified to
type. Matt Young (may6 at cornell.edu <http://cornell.edu>) of the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology will identify types if you email him your
recordingsor upload them to an eBird checklist.This helps his research.
Recordings uploaded to eBird checklists are deposited in the Macaulay
Library. See link #4 for Matt’s guide to Red Crossbill call types.
*WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL:* Most White-winged Crossbills have moved east
to Newfoundland and west to Western Canada where spruce cone crops are
much larger. Some should wander south this winter into southern Ontario
and the northern states because of poor cone crops in the eastern boreal
forest. Watch for them on non-native spruces and European Larch.
*COMMON REDPOLL:* This will be a flight year for redpolls. Birch, alder
and conifer seed crops are generally poor to low in most of the
Northeast so redpolls will come south into southern Ontario and the
northern states. The first arriving redpolls this fall likely will be
seen in weedy fields. When redpolls discover nyger seed feeders, feeding
frenzies will result. Fidgety redpolls are best studied at feeders. Look
for the larger and darker far northern “Greater” Common Redpoll
(subspecies /rostrata/) from Baffin Island (NU) and Greenland. For
subspecies ID see link #2 below.
*HOARY REDPOLL:*This will be the winter to see Hoaries in flocks of
Common Redpolls. The “Southern” Hoary Redpoll (subspecies /exilipes/)
breeds south to northern Ontario and is the subspecies usually seen in
southern Canada and northern USA. Watch for the far northern
“Hornemann’s” Hoary Redpoll (nominate /hornemanni/) from high arctic
Nunavut and Greenland. It is the largest and palest of the redpolls.
Hornemann’s was formerly considered a great rarity south of the tundra,
but recently it has been documented more frequently in the south with
better photos. For subspecies ID see link #2 below.
*PINE SISKIN:*Siskins are currently moving south because cone crops in
the Northeast are generally poor on spruce, fir and hemlock. Many
siskins also have probably gone to better spruce crops in Western
Canada. Siskins relish nyger seeds in silo feeders. Link #3 below
discusses siskin irruptions related to climate variability.
*EVENING GROSBEAK:* Expect a moderate flight south into southern Ontario
and the northern states because both conifer and deciduous seed crops
are generally low in the Northeast. The best spot to see this striking
grosbeak is the feeders at the Visitor Centre in Algonquin Park. At
feeders it prefers black oil sunflower seeds. In April 2016 the
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC)
listed the Evening Grosbeak a species of /Special Concern /due to strong
population declines occurring mainly in central and eastern Canada.
*THREE IRRUPTIVE NON-FINCH PASSERINES:*Movements of the following three
passerines are linked to irruptions of boreal finches.
*BLUE JAY:* A very large flight of jays is underway along the north
shorelines of Lakes Ontario and Erie. The acorn, beechnut, hazelnut
crops were generally poor to low in central Ontario and Quebec.
*RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH:* This nuthatch is irrupting south because
conifer seed crops are poor to low in most of the eastern boreal forest.
Red-breasted Nuthatches also have moved east to Newfoundland where
spruce crops are excellent. A report on eBird at Point Pelee National
Park on 25 July 2018 was an early indication of a movement.
*BOHEMIAN WAXWING: *A good flight south into settled areas is expected
because native Mountain-ashes in Ontario and Quebec’s boreal forest have
a below average berry crop. Flocks will likely wander farther south and
east than usual. Watch for them feeding on European Mountain‐ash
berries, small ornamental crabapples and Buckthorn berries. Swirling
flocks of Bohemian Waxwings resemble starlings and make a continuous
buzzy ringing twittering.
*WHERE TO SEE FINCHES: *Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park is an
exciting winter experience. It is about a 3.5 hour drive north of
Toronto. Cone crops are poor in the park so crossbills, siskins and
Purple Finches will be mostly absent this winter. The feeders at the
Visitor Centre (km 43) should attract Common and Hoary Redpolls, Evening
and Pine Grosbeaks. The feeders are easily observed from the viewing
deck. The Visitor Centre and restaurant are open weekends in winter. On
weekdays there are limited services, but snacks and drinks are
available. The bookstore has a large selection of natural history books.
Be sure to get the /Birds of Algonquin Park/ (2012) by former park
naturalist Ron Tozer. It is one of the finest regional bird books. The
nearby Spruce Bog Trail at km 42.5 and Opeongo Road at km 44.5 are the
best spots for boreal species such as finches, Canada Jay, Boreal
Chickadee, Spruce Grouse and Black-backed Woodpecker.
--
Don MacNeill donmacneill@bellaliant.net
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<tt>Here is some information relating to cone crops and expected
irruptions. I am not sure what the cone crop situation is in Nova
Scotia, but I would suggest setting up your feeders again if you
have taken them down.</tt><br>
<h1 class="title" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.95552em;
line-height: 1.2141em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;
text-align: start; -webkit-hyphens: manual; display: block;
max-width: 100%;"><br>
</h1>
<h1 class="title" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.95552em;
line-height: 1.2141em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em;
text-align: start; -webkit-hyphens: manual; display: block;
max-width: 100%;">Winter Finch Forecast 2018-2019</h1>
<div class="leading-image" style="max-width: 100%; margin-bottom:
1.15em; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: -apple-system-font;
font-size: 0.75rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);"><img
src="http://jeaniron.ca/2018/evgrwff9522.jpg" class=""
style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin: auto; display:
block; clear: both;"></div>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> GENERAL FORECAST:</span></b></font><span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN-US"> This is an irruption
(flight) year for winter finches in the East. Cone and birch
seed crops are poor to low in most of Ontario and the Northeast,
with a few exceptions such as Newfoundland which has an
excellent spruce crop. It will be a quiet winter in the North
Woods. Expect flights of winter finches into southern Ontario,
southern Quebec, Maritime Provinces, New York and New England
States, with some finches going farther south into the United
States.<span style="max-width: 100%;"> Stock your bird feeders
because </span>many birds will have a difficult time finding
natural foods this winter. This forecast applies primarily to
Ontario and adjacent provinces and states.</span><span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN-US"> Spruce, birch and
mountain-ash crops are much better in Western Canada. For the
details on each finch species, see individual forecasts below.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> PINE GROSBEAK: </span></b></font> <span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN-US"> This magnificent grosbeak
will move south in moderate numbers into southern Ontario and
the northern states. The Mountain-ash berry crop in the boreal
forest of Ontario and Quebec is below average and conifer seeds
are in short supply. The feeders at the Visitor Centre in
Algonquin Park should have Pine Grosbeaks this winter. At
feeders they prefer black oil sunflower seeds. Also watch for
them on European Mountain-ashes and crabapple trees.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">PURPLE FINCH:</b></font> Purple
Finches are now moving south out of Ontario. Most Purples will
have departed the province by December because seed crops are
poor on northern conifers and hardwoods. A few may linger at
feeders in southern Ontario where they prefer black oil
sunflower seeds.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">RED CROSSBILL:</b></font> Red
Crossbills will be scarce this winter. Watch for them in pines.
Red Crossbills comprise about 10 "call types" in North America.
The western types seen last winter in the East have probably
returned to their core ranges in western North America. Most
types are impossible to identify without analyzing recordings of
their flight calls. Recordings can be made with an iPhone and
identified to type<span style="max-width: 100%;">.</span> Matt
Young (may6 at cornell.edu) of
the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will identify types if you email
him your recordings</span><span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> or upload them to an eBird checklist.</span><span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN-US"> This helps his research.
Recordings uploaded to eBird checklists are deposited in the
Macaulay Library. See link #4 for Matt’s guide to Red Crossbill
call types.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL:</b> </font>Most
White-winged Crossbills have moved east to Newfoundland and west
to Western Canada where spruce cone crops are much larger. Some
should wander south this winter into southern Ontario and the
northern states because of poor cone crops in the eastern boreal
forest. Watch for them on non-native spruces and European Larch.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">COMMON REDPOLL:</b></font> This
will be a flight year for redpolls. Birch, alder and conifer
seed crops are generally poor to low in most of the Northeast so
redpolls will come south into southern Ontario and the northern
states. The first arriving redpolls this fall likely will be
seen in </span> <span style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN">weedy
fields. When redpolls discover nyger seed feeders, feeding
frenzies will result. </span> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> Fidgety redpolls are best studied at feeders. Look
for the larger and darker far northern </span> <span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN"> “Greater” Common Redpoll
(subspecies <i style="max-width: 100%;">rostrata</i>) from
Baffin Island (NU) and Greenland. For subspecies ID see link #2
below.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> HOARY REDPOLL:</span></b><span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN-US"> </span></font> <span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN">This will be the winter to
see Hoaries in flocks of Common Redpolls. The “Southern” Hoary
Redpoll (subspecies <i style="max-width: 100%;">exilipes</i>)
breeds south to northern Ontario and is the subspecies usually
seen in southern Canada and northern USA. Watch for the far
northern “Hornemann’s” Hoary Redpoll (nominate <i
style="max-width: 100%;">hornemanni</i>) from high arctic
Nunavut and Greenland. It is the largest and palest of the
redpolls. Hornemann’s was formerly considered a great rarity
south of the tundra, but recently it has been documented more
frequently in the south with better photos. For subspecies ID
see link #2 below.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> PINE SISKIN:</span></b></font><span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN-US"> Siskins are currently
moving south because cone crops in the Northeast are generally
poor on spruce, fir and hemlock. Many siskins also have probably
gone to better spruce crops in Western Canada. Siskins relish
nyger seeds in silo feeders. Link #3 below discusses siskin
irruptions related to climate variability.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">EVENING GROSBEAK:</b></font> Expect
a moderate flight south into southern Ontario and the northern
states because both conifer and deciduous seed crops are
generally low in the Northeast. </span> <span
style="max-width: 100%;" lang="EN-US"> The best spot to see this
striking grosbeak is the feeders at the Visitor Centre in
Algonquin Park. At feeders it prefers black oil sunflower seeds.
In April 2016 </span> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US">the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife
in Canada (COSEWIC) listed the Evening Grosbeak a species of <i
style="max-width: 100%;">Special Concern </i>due to strong
population declines occurring mainly in central and eastern
Canada.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"><b style="max-width: 100%;"> <font
style="max-width: 100%;">THREE IRRUPTIVE NON-FINCH
PASSERINES:</font></b><font style="max-width: 100%;"> </font>Movements
of the following three passerines are linked to irruptions of
boreal finches.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">BLUE JAY:</b></font> A very large
flight of jays is underway along the north shorelines of Lakes
Ontario and Erie. The acorn, beechnut, hazelnut crops were
generally poor to low in central Ontario and Quebec.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH:</b></font>
This nuthatch is irrupting south because conifer seed crops are
poor to low in most of the eastern boreal forest. Red-breasted
Nuthatches also have moved east to Newfoundland where spruce
crops are excellent. A report on eBird at Point Pelee National
Park on 25 July 2018 was an early indication of a movement.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">BOHEMIAN WAXWING: </b></font>A
good flight south into settled areas is expected because native
Mountain-ashes in Ontario and Quebec’s boreal forest have a
below average berry crop. Flocks will likely wander farther
south and east than usual. Watch for them feeding on European
Mountain‐ash berries, small ornamental crabapples and Buckthorn
berries. Swirling flocks of Bohemian Waxwings resemble starlings
and make a continuous buzzy ringing twittering.</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"> <span style="max-width: 100%;"
lang="EN-US"> <font style="max-width: 100%;"><b
style="max-width: 100%;">WHERE TO SEE FINCHES: </b></font>Ontario’s
Algonquin Provincial Park is an exciting winter experience. It
is about a 3.5 hour drive north of Toronto. Cone crops are poor
in the park so crossbills, siskins and Purple Finches will be
mostly absent this winter. The feeders at the Visitor Centre (km
43) should attract Common and Hoary Redpolls, Evening and Pine
Grosbeaks. The feeders are easily observed from the viewing
deck. The Visitor Centre and restaurant are open weekends in
winter. On weekdays there are limited services, but snacks and
drinks are available. The bookstore has a large selection of
natural history books. Be sure to get the <i style="max-width:
100%;">Birds of Algonquin Park</i> (2012) by former park
naturalist Ron Tozer. It is one of the finest regional bird
books. The nearby Spruce Bog Trail at km 42.5 and Opeongo Road
at km 44.5 are the best spots for boreal species such as
finches, Canada Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Spruce Grouse and
Black-backed Woodpecker.</span></p>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
Don MacNeill
donmacneill@bellaliant.net</div>
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