Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Redpoll

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Saw my first Redpoll ever!

There are many birding sites for the enthusiast these days...I have added a few links to my sidebar so I can keep up with things.

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I went looking for information about the numbers of redpolls seen in Pennsylvania in the area that I live, and found this:

We are experiencing the biggest winter finch irruption since the"superflight" of 1997-1998, when many boreal finches went well beyondtheir normal ranges. The cause is the largest tree seed crop failurein a decade across more than 3200 km (2000 mi) of boreal forest fromSaskatchewan into Quebec. Today in Toronto, I had a Pine Grosbeak,Evening Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins and Purple Finchesmigrating along the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Boreal winter finchesare being reported in many areas of southern Ontario and the UnitedStates, where some species such as Pine and Evening Grosbeaks haven'tbeen seen in years. There is no telling how far south this"superflight" will go.

Unless you are a birder, you may not understand the thrill of getting to add a bird to your "life list". It made my day.

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To view more data on the Redpoll numbers in PA, go here

at

10 comments:

  1. DebbieB11:06 AM

    Delighted for you! :)

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  2. meresy_g11:35 AM

    I've never seen a redpoll. I will be on the lookout. I like the word "superflight".

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  3. Jacqui2:17 PM

    what a lovely bird! congrats.

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  4. judy5:53 PM

    good for birders, bad for birds?

    I've got the Redpolls every winter. Also, both Rose Breasted and Evening Grosbeaks.

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  5. Donna B6:59 PM

    We have a feeder that sits in a window with a mirrored surface so you can watch the birds. I stopped using it in Ohio cause all we got were rude pigeon/dove types that chased all the other birds away. You make me want to unpack it again now that we've moved!

    Congrats on your Redpoll!

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  6. Cathy10:58 AM

    What a thrill!!

    And great photos too.

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  7. annmarie2:01 PM

    what a sweet looking bird! I can certainly imagine the thrill of seeing this little bird.

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  8. Lisa at Greenbow3:19 PM

    Oh Cyndy, What a thrill it is to get a redpoll at your feeder. I have never seen a redpoll at our feeders. It is a rarity to see a purple finch at the feeder. I have only seen a PUFI at our feeder a couple of times in the last 13 years of living here. I am certainly aware of the enormity of seeing a Redpoll for the first time. Congratualations and lots of envy. :)

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  9. Pat K7:30 PM

    Wonderful pictures!

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  10. Sharon12:46 AM

    Its so nice to see new species! Good on you!

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