andy (04/18/83)
Although I am still reeling from the shock of seeing four submissions to this group today, I will try to remain calm. We spent the weekend at our cottage north of Peterborough and found birding to be very slow. The only birds present in numbers were the common residents: chickadees, jays, nuthatches and wood- peckers. Migrants seen: Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Turkey Vulture, Common Loon, Great Blue Heron, "blackbirds" and one very sorry looking Purple Martin. Nightime temperatures fall to about -8C, so it's not too surprising that migrants are slow to arrive in numbers. No winter finches to be found, just some juncos. The weather forcast for the area calls for snow and more cold-- guess it's gonna be a weird spring... Anybody in New York or Jersey with martin houses have any tenants yet? How about your Screech Owls, Bob? Any warblers moving through? We seem to have many more Kestrels around this year--anyone else notice that in their area? About summer feeding: we put out cracked corn, sunflower and seed-mix. We stay away from suet because it apparently goes rancid during warm weather. Happy Birding! Andy Rubaszek, Zoology, U of T decvax!utzoo!andy