2013 and beyond

It's pretty simple: the most birds seen or heard from one's yard during 2013 will be the "winner". Want in? O.k....then do it despite that.

2013 promises to be a lot less mean but still a carbon-free birding competition, even if slightly less exciting than a MEGA x EPIC hybrid.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

A Shift of Winds

The storms and tornadic south winds that hit the yard early Monday morning took down some big trees, but also brought down some long overdue migrants. At 3am I awoke to the steadily rising grinding howl of what I contend was a tornado. After a quick check of weather maps & radar I headed for the basement. At that point it was 69 degrees in South Haven (15 miles south) and 45 here. The isobars were pretty tight. A walk through the yard carnage just after dawn Monday produced newly arrived YBSA, FOSP, SWSP, GCKI & EAPH. Sadly revealed as well was half of a 150+ year old sugar maple on the ground - formerly a major migrant attraction. At least four Fox Sparrow were enjoying the brushy rubble. Along the south boundary Golden-crowned Kinglet were flitting about in the remains of two freshly fallen 50ft. spruce.

Tuesday, a day off from work, allowed for a bit more extensive yard survey. The morning held more of the same as the day before, however a change in wind from the south in the pm delivered some additions for the year. TRES, BEKI, DCCO, WTSP, HETH & AMKE arrived along with a spectacular dark morph Western Red-tailed Hawk that circled directly overhead for several minutes. Of course, it was a point at which I neglected to have a camera in hand - DUH!

A BRCR greeted me this morning as I walked out of the house to bird in the rain. And at dusk tonight a pair of GBHE flew over. Stillaround are the territorial MERL and for a couple days there were not one, but two ORJU at the feeders at the same time.

2 comments:

  1. Tough break on the trees Rick... Glad you received an influx of migrants though!

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  2. whoa, gosh sorry to hear about the trees. I live in fear of those game-changing storms. Heartbreaking.

    I have so few trees available that I chase the PIWO out of the yard for fear of his wrath...that was until he learned to be polite and only dine on suet.

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