I spend quite a bit of time in the woods skiing these days and one thing I note is the amount of birds, including chickadees, nuthatches and even juncos, that are off in the woods, often at elevations of 1000 - 2000 ft or so, feeding on the the most amazing Yellow Birch mast we've seen in years and years. I am running into large foraging flocks of birds on these trees. So yes, while they are clearly down at feeders, there are a lot in Yellow Birch stands right now. This doesn't explain it fully perhaps, but there is more going on out there than just at feeders.

Kent

____________________________

Kent McFarland
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055
802.649.1431 x201

On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 8:49 AM, Susan Hardy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Here in Plainfield, NH we have only had a couple chickadees. Our numbers run from a couple up to 10 in any given year. What is conspicuously absent have been white breasted nuthatches. Have not seen (or heard any) in several months. Also the number of goldfinch has been down to 2, if any show up, significantly less than the average 10 to 12 we would have.

Susan Hardy

Plainfield

To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask]edu Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask]dartmouth.edu To unsubscribe: E-mail this command to [log in to unmask]edu UNSUBSCRIBE UV-Birders To change your e-mail address: E-mail this command from your old address to: [log in to unmask]edu CHANGE UV-Birders [new e-mail address]

Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html

To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe: E-mail this command to [log in to unmask] UNSUBSCRIBE UV-Birders To change your e-mail address: E-mail this command from your old address to: [log in to unmask] CHANGE UV-Birders [new e-mail address]