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Winter 2004
Hannah Suthers
The mild fall weather continued with 26 above-freezing
December days pushing the 40's and 50's, and 58 degrees on New Year's
Day. In mid January red maple buds were swollen and a Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker drilled three holes in a large tree and sipped from one to
another as the sap flowed. Then came a cold snap on Jan. 16th, 15"
snow on the 22nd, and winter had begun. Birds mobbed the feeders.
The remaining crabapples were depleated rapidly by robins, starlings
and House Finches. A flicker dug in the scraped roadside. Deer could
reach higher into the cedars. Temperatures in the 40's and 50's again
in February, then snow on the 21st, 24th, and 28th. On Feb. 17 two
Carolina Chickadees were fightig while a third watched. Forty species
were observed.
| Snow Goose | flock flyover on Dec 5 |
| Canada Goose | throughout |
| Black and Turkey Vultures | throughout, also at a Borough roost |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 3 individuals in Jan and Feb |
| Cooper's Hawk | Feb 23 (JS) |
| Red-tailed Hawk | throughout, pair and an immature |
| Mourning Dove | up to 15 throughout |
| Eastern Screech Owl | red phase, in tree cavity Jan 19 thru Feb (JS) |
| Great Horned Owl | 19-Dec |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Dec 11, 19, Jan 18, another Jan 19 |
| Downy, Hairy (JS), Red-bellied Woodpeckers | throughout |
| Common Flicker | (2) throughout |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Dec 14, 16, frequent visitor (JS) |
| Jays and Crows | sparse throughout |
| Carolina and Black-capped Chickadees | throughout |
| Tufted Titmouse | throughout, singing mid Feb |
| White-breasted Nuthatches | throughout |
| Carolina Wrens | 2 throughout |
| Eastern Bluebirds | 18-Feb |
| Hermit Thrush | Dec 19 (2), Jan 20 |
| American Robin | throughout, up to 30 |
| Northern Mockingbird | 2 throughout |
| European Starling | flocks 100+ throughout |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | 22-Dec |
| Northern Cardinal | up to 12 pairs throughout |
| American Tree Sparrow | up to 7 throughout |
| Song Sparrow | 3 throughout |
| White-throated Sparrow | 50 throughout |
| Dark-eyed Junco | 30 throughout |
| Common Grackle | Jan 18, Feb 16 (30) |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Jan 22 (JS) |
| Purple Finch | 2-Dec |
| House Finch | 2 pairs throughout |
| American Goldfinch | (10) throughout |
| House Sparrow | throughout |
Hannah Suthers and the Featherbed Lane Banding Station Crew
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