|
Winter 2002
Hannah Suthers
December - February had seasonal rain and snow breaking the
drought. The ephemeral puddles on Featherbed Lane were at two-thirds
capacity and the marshy field was dry, indicating that the underlying
ground water level was not yet completely restored. Then came the
record-breaking snow of 17" on Feb 16-17. Three inches of rain followed
on Feb 22-23 and temperatures in the teens froze the remaining 12"
of snow into a thick, hard shield. Deer stripped shrubs and trees at
a higher level, and birds flocked to feeders for survival. Because
drought preempted the usual fruit crops, the hundreds of Robins (all
but 12), the eight Cedar Waxwings, two Hermit Thrushes, Yellow-rumped
Warbler, and Flicker did not stay beyond December. No Turkeys were
seen. There were 43 species in all.
| Snow Goose | 1200 flying south on Dec 15 |
| Canada Goose | throughout |
| Black Vulture | 25 Jan; 8 on Feb 4 & 6 |
| Turkey Vultures | throughout |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Dec 15 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Jan 25 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | throughout |
| Ruffed Grouse | Dec 15 |
| Mourning Dove | 15+, throughout |
| Eastern Screech Owl | red phase, in tree cavity Dec 27, Feb 14, 16 (Janet Speck) |
| Great Horned Owl | pair calling Dec, Jan |
| Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Pileated Woodpeckers | throughout |
| Jays and Crows | stable throughout |
| Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees | throughout |
| Tufted Titmouse | 6 pr throughout, singing mid Feb |
| White-breasted Nuthatches | 3 pr throughout |
| Carolina Wrens | 2 throughout |
| Eastern Bluebirds | Dec 15, Jan, Feb 22 |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | 18 Dec |
| Northern Mockingbird | 2 throughout |
| European Starling | flocks 30+ throughout |
| Northern Cardinal | 6 Males 5 females throughout |
| American Tree Sparrow | 2 throughout |
| Fox Sparrow | Feb 25 |
| Song Sparrow | 2 |
| White-throated Sparrows | 20 |
| Juncos | 12 throughout |
| Common Grackle | 200 overhead, Feb 1,Feb 28, two |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 2, Feb 24 |
| Redwinged Blackbird | Feb 24 |
| Purple Finch | 7 on Dec 15, 6 on Feb 15 (Janet Speck) |
| House Finch | few throughout |
| American Goldfinch | throughout |
| House Sparrow | few throughout |
Hannah Suthers and the Featherbed Lane Banding Station Crew
|
