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This winter did not bode well for the 47 species of birds in the vicinity of the Featherbed Lane Bird Banding and Research Station. A record-breaking summer drought that preempted a good wild fruit set and grass and wildflower seed supply was followed by heavy winter storms (9" on 26 Dec, 6" on 7-8 Jan, 11" on 11-12 Jan, 3" on 21 Jan, 9" on 26-27 Jan, 1/2" ice on 2 Feb) that left deep snow on the ground through most of February. Fewer migrant individuals overwintered. Feeders kept many migrants and residents from starvation. A roost in tall spruce trees on Hart Avenue accommodated up to 77 Turkey Vultures and 16 Black Vultures. Screech Owls were calling at end Feb, Woodcock were peenting on Feb 27.
Details are as follows, (high numbers) seen throughout unless indicated by dates:
| Canada Goose flyovers |
| Ring-billed Gull flyovers Dec 19, Feb 18 |
| Wood Duck Feb 21 |
| Black Vulture |
| Turkey Vulture |
| Red-shouldered Hawk Jan 11, Rt. 654, Hopewell |
| Red-tailed Hawk (2) |
| Cooper's Hawk Dec 19 |
| American Kestrel Dec 19 |
| Wild Turkey (2) 4 View Pt. Dr. Dec 16 |
| American Woodcock (4) Feb 27 |
| Mourning Dove (12) |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (3) Dec 17-19 |
| Downy (4), Hairy (2) Woodpeckers |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (6), |
| Pileated Woodpecker pair |
| Common Flicker (Yellow-shafted) |
| American Crow (11) |
| Blue Jay (13) in Dec, (9) in Feb |
| Chickadees, Black-capped (4), Carolina (4), Hybrid (2) |
| Tufted Titmouse (9) |
| White-breasted Nuthatch (5) |
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (2) 4 View Pt. Dr. Dec 2, 16 |
| Carolina Wren (2) |
| N. Mockingbird (1) |
| E. Bluebird (5) |
| Hermit Thrush Dec 19 |
| Robin, northern subspecies (37) Dec 17, (15) Feb 8 |
| Cedar Waxwing (2) Dec 19 |
| European Starling (9) |
| Northern Cardinal (12) |
| E. Towhee last seen Dec 15 |
| Am. Tree Sparrow last seen Feb 11 at 4 View Pt. Dr. |
| Chipping Sparrow (3) Feb 19 |
| Song Sparrow (3) |
| White-throated Sparrow (12, down from 118 last year) |
| Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco (25, down from 65 last year) |
| Am. Goldfinch (12) |
| House Finch (6) |
| House Sparrow (19) |
| Brown-headed Cowbird Dec 19, Feb 21 |
| Red-winged Blackbird Feb 8, (50) Feb 21 |
| Common Grackle (10) Dec 19, (30) Feb 20 |
| Rusty Blackbird Dec 15 |
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