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Posts Tagged "irruption"

Snowy Owl in Erie, Pennsylvania by Michele Rundquist-Franz

Posted on Nov 15, 2014

Snowy Owl in Erie, Pennsylvania by Michele Rundquist-Franz

Michele Rundquist-Franz, President of the Presque Isle Audubon Society, sent me this stupendous photo of a Snowy Owl taken last Wednesday, November 12. Michele took the photo of this bird on a roof of a home in Erie, Pennsylvania, noting this was approximately the same date Snowys started showing up in the coastal city last autumn. This weekend, with a cold northerly flow in place and a lot of birders outdoors, should yield more owl sightings. Get outside and find them – and good luck!   Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

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Purple Finch and Pine Siskin invasion

Posted on Nov 14, 2014

Purple Finch and Pine Siskin invasion

Two species have recently flooded the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic according to list serv reports, accounts from friends and my own personal observations – the Purple Finch and the Pine Siskin. The former has been unbelievably abundant in my experience, often being difficult to go outside for any length of time without seeing one in the past month. The latter, while a bit tougher to spot, has nonetheless zipped by in sizable groups and maintained their nomadic feeding habits. Just how massive are these irruptions in our region? I turned to eBird to find out the truth. Here are both...

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Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) irruption

Posted on Nov 13, 2014

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) irruption

There have been Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) moving south in very subtle ways for a couple of months now. If you watch migratory hotspots you can sometimes detect their irruption years, especially if that location is not a particularly friendly habitat for the species. I have seen flocks of 10-20 birds tightly packed together and feeding on the move, possibly heading for a feeding station like yours. I always wonder what particular triggers end up notifying a widespread and highly adaptive bird like this one that they should nonetheless change their quarters for the autumn...

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Snowy Owl sentinel

Posted on Nov 13, 2014

Snowy Owl sentinel

This Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) sentinel was photographed by RTPI Affiliate Sean Graesser during last year’s irruption. There have been more Snowy Owls appearing daily in the Midwest and the Northeast. One was seen yesterday not too far from RTPI in Erie, Pennsylvania. None of our staff or colleagues have had the chance to see one yet this fall but we will let you know and hopefully show you one soon if we do. Have you spotted a Snowy this autumn?!

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Snowy Owl irruption…underway? Again?!

Posted on Nov 10, 2014

Snowy Owl irruption…underway? Again?!

Yes, my friends, here we are again! Is a Snowy Owl irruption into the southern parts of Canada and the lower 48 states already underway? The answer certainly looks to be a firm yes considering recent list serv reports. The eBird Snowy Owl map below highlights sightings from August 1, 2014 through November 9, 2014. It also says yes… Remember that sightings in the last 30 days are in bright orange. Look how far south some birds have already been spotted! Now let us remember that a certain number of Snowy Owls move to the south every winter. If you live near a major migratory corridor or...

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