Where the winter finches were in 2003 ...

	Reports of winter finches visiting feeders in North America tend to follow a two-year “boom-or-bust” cycle. If you had large numbers of finches visiting your feeders during the winter of 2001-2002, chances are you have few or none visiting in the winter of 2002-2003. Sightings of Common Redpolls, Red Crossbills, and White-winged Crossbills were almost non-existent in much of the lower 48 states in 2002-2003. Other finches, such as Pine Siskins, were present in much of the west, but largely absent in the east. Common Redpolls are classic irruptive species--very common one year and nearly absent the next.This small finch proved difficult to find in the lower 48 states in 2002-2003. Photo by Molly Sorlie. The winter finches are known as “irruptive” species, meaning that they periodically move south during winter in search of food. However, if food resources are adequate in central and northern Canada, these species are content spending the winter at northerly latitudes. Judging by the lack of finches in southern Canada and the U.S. in the winter of 2002-2003, trees in the boreal forests of northern Canada must have produced a spectacular crop of seeds in the summer of 2002. From the data submitted over the Internet by FeederWatchers, we learned where the finches were--and were not--in the winter of 2002-2003. Common Redpoll: Following a predictable two-year irruption cycle, Common Redpolls were not expected to show up in the U.S. in large numbers in 2002-2003. Indeed, the irruption pattern held true as only a few reports of redpoll sightings filtered in. Most sightings in 2002-2003 were in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Most U.S. residents spent the winter without redpolls at their feeders. Hoary Redpoll: While never common and rarely reaching the lower 48 states, reports of Hoary Redpoll sightings were nearly absent in North America in the winter of 2002-2003. Only a handful of reports came from sites scattered across Canada and in northern Minnesota. Evening Grosbeak: Nearly absent in the east in the first half of the winter, Evening Grosbeaks were reported from northern Wisconsin through central British Columbia, as well as extending south down the spine of the Rockies.  By February, reports of this species came in from northern New York through the Maritime provinces (see map below). Pine Grosbeak: Despite the name, this winter finch with a large, strong bill, is not closely related to the grosbeaks. To get a look at a Pine Grosbeak’s big bill in 2002-2003, you probably had to travel north of the lower 48 states unless you located one of the few birds being reported by FeederWatchers in the Rockies and eastern Oregon. Pine Siskin: Thistle seed sales must have been lower in the east in the winter of 2002-2003 as Pine Siskins were nearly absent from areas east of the Mississippi River. However, siskins were widely reported in the west. Almost all reports came from areas west of a line extending between Texas and Manitoba. Purple Finch: Participants in two broad regions reported Purple Finches in 2002-2003. One area was east of the Mississippi River, with the bulk of the population staying north of Georgia and Alabama. A second concentration area was located along the Pacific coast from California to southern British Columbia. Red-breasted Nuthatch: While not a finch, Red-breasted Nuthatches are often grouped with the winter finches due to their irruptive winter movements. However, the winter range of Red-breasted Nuthatches is less predictable than the finches. In the winter of 2002-2003, FeederWatchers reported Red-breasted Nuthatches north of a line extending from Virginia to northern California. Reports were primarily coming from Pennsylvania north to southern Ontario and Quebec, as well as another core area from western Montana to coastal Washington and British Columbia. Red Crossbill: Red Crossbills were difficult to find in 2002-2003, with most of the sightings in the Rockies. Photo by Debarah Arnett White-winged Crossbill: Who saw White-winged Crossbills in 2002-2003? Only 14 reports were submitted during the entire season. This species was quite common in the northeast in the winter of 2001-2002, and the absence of this vocal finch was noticeable in forested areas in 2002-2003. If you didn't see winter finches in your neighborhood in 2002-2003, it is probably not a cause for concern. By examining the long-term data from Project FeederWatch, we now better understand the cyclic nature of winter finch movements. Many finches simply stayed north in the  winter of 2002-2003, and few FeederWatchers lived in northern Canada to report them. Fortunately for those of you who missed the winter finches in 2002-2003, you can look forward to more sightings next year as the biennial cycle brings birds back to your area. To view where your favorite species were seen, visit the FeederWatch map room at http://birds.cornell.edu/PFWMaproom/.