Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 8:29 am, sunset 5:56 pm for a total day length of 9 hours and 27 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5 minutes and 24 seconds longer.
A big snowstorm over the weekend dumped 8” of snow, cloaking the bare ground with a more seasonal attire. The temp, however, has since risen from the mid 20s to mid 30s, delivering the wettest snowflakes possible mixed with rain. Perfect for snow sculptures. Sun and north wind in the forecast for Tuesday, followed by 1-3” of snow, then sun, rain, repeat.
I must admit that birding, especially for songbirds, has been a bit of a bust this winter. Everywhere I go, people ask me, “Where are the birds?” Full feeders and tempting suet are barely touched. Habitats seem empty. Numbers are down and some species missing entirely. This does not include irruptive species like Redpolls and Pine Siskins that come and go as they please.
I feel lucky to have 3 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, 2 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, and a RED-BRASTED NUTHATCH at my feeders. I haven’t seen a Steller’s Jay in a long time, a usual neighborhood resident. It is very troubling that our resident birds are scarce. What could have happened to them on their home turf?
If anyone has birds, it’s Ava. Recently, she reported an influx of about 50 COMMON REDPOLLS feeding on nearby alder seeds. I don’t even have one on my year list yet. When I dropped by to check, they had moved on. I saw a smattering of Chickadees and DARK-EYED JUNCOS, two PINE GROSBEAKS (yay!), a DOWNY and a HAIRY WOODPECKER, and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Ava explained that the occasional Shrike and Sharp-shinned Hawk have terrorized her feeders and the birds are easily spooked. Predators are hungry too. A highlight was a plucky KINGFISHER perched expectantly on the power line overlooking nearby Salmon Creek.
The NORTHWESTERN CROWS seem to be doing fine, whether gracefully dropping mussels from on high then swooping down to dine, or plaguing bird feeders intended for others, blocks from the beach.
RAVENS also seem to be healthy, scavenging at the dump, patrolling the grocery store parking lot, and gleaning intertidal organic treats. They should be nesting now. Hate to include Pigeons/ROCK DOVES, but they are thriving on straight-out handouts and feeder attacks. BLACK-BILLED MAGPIES announce their presence without a care.
Bay bird numbers are also down, but small groups of HARLEQUINS, SURF SCOTERS, HORNED GREBES, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, BUFFLEHEAD, and MARBLED MURRELETS can be usually be found. Larger but still low counts of BARROW’S and COMMON GOLDENEYES, and COMMON MERGANSERS are a treat to watch diving in the boat harbor and along the shore. Bait balls (herring?) induced a flurry of action along Lowell Point Road that included a pair of BALD EAGLES snatching talons-full of the tiny fish.
Up to 22 TRUMPETER SWANS including the resident family of eight, are locally surviving the mixed and extreme winter conditions; a thrill to see! The rare PIED-BILLED GREBE pops up in the boat harbor with regularity, though he is often very elusive. No further reports on the Red-breasted Sapsucker or Killdeer.
All in all, it’s been a too-quiet winter. Every bird counts and every one is appreciated.
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
