Having grown up on LI I learned to expect a fallout of chickadees every so often; at those times, the bayside of the coastal dunes and scrub were full of them. Sometimes red-breasted nuthatches, too. Other years, tree swallows overwintered in abundance. During odd years that featured chickadees (&/or nuthatches), which happened to also coincide with a few coastal wintering northern shrikes, you'd find half eaten chickadees (&/or nuthatches) impaled on hawthorns or jammed into twig forks.

Others years, chickadees (&/or nuthatches) were as rare around the beach as hens' teeth.  

On Fri, Dec 29, 2017 at 1:29 PM, cynthia crawford <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Pam's explanation sounds right....but in the 30 years I've lived here, I have NEVER had so few chickadees as this year. I think my winter average is at least  7-10 or more.

Cynthia Crawford

Creature Kinships and Natural Affinities
Animal and Nature Paintings, Portraits and Prints
NEW WEB SITE:
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On Fri, Dec 29, 2017 at 1:13 PM, Kit Hood <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
We currently have lots of Juncos, 16 Goldfinches, a handful of Jays and maybe 5 Chickadees. No RB or WB nuthatches or Titmice.  Only 3-4 Mourning Doves vs 14-16 last year. Very low numbers overall (except for Juncos) than the past 25 years!  A few Downey and Hairy WPs. One lone Starling yesterday along with two House Finches.

Kit Hood
Sharon

On Dec 29, 2017, at 12:51 PM, cynthia crawford <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Same here....miss them! We have about 30 goldfinches, 25 Juncos, Downy and Hairy WP, 1 Titmouse 3 Jays, 1-2 white-breasted nuthatches....and maybe 2-3 chickadees. sniff.

Cynthia Crawford

Creature Kinships and Natural Affinities
Animal and Nature Paintings, Portraits and Prints
NEW WEB SITE:
www.creaturekinships.net  2018 Bird Calendars for sale


On Fri, Dec 29, 2017 at 12:26 PM, david merker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Chickadees are usually our must abundant birds…by far our most abundant bird… on a given day in the winter we could easily catch and band 25 + chickadees

We estimate 3-4 individuals this winter.. and what causes such a dramatic change?

Dave Merker 
Etna, New Hampshire
Cape May Raptor Banding Project Inc.
www.capemayraptors.org




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