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Steller's
Jays
Mountain
Chickadees
Cassin's
Finch
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Late last fall
we heard reports that in the western states, particularly at lower-elevations, an
irruption of several species of birds was occurring. Using the data sbmitted by online
western FeederWatchers, we were able to find out which species were involved. Below is a
preliminary analysis.
 Steller's JaysThe numbers of Steller’s Jays showed
little change on the West Coast, but showed up in larger numbers in central California and
the southwestern states near Logan, Utah; Albequerque, New Mexico, Prescott, Arizona; and
Durango, Colorado. |
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Mountain
Chickadees
Mountain Chickadees followed a similar pattern to the jays,
though the difference in numbers between this winter and last winter was not as great as
with the jays. |
| Cassin's Finch Cassin’s Finch showed up in
higher-than-normal numbers in the low areas surrounding northern Nevada, western and
central Arizona, and on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains near the Four Corners
area. There was little or no change in most other areas within its range. |
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In general, species that normally winter at high elevations
were being observed at lower elevations, probably in search of food. We speculate that the
extreme drought that plagued many western areas in 1999 and 2000 may have affected the
availability of natural foods in the upper elevations.
April 6, 2001 |
