Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
One of my favorite parts of the chilly month of November is the return of the Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) which becomes widespread after most of the other sparrow species have passed through or established winter territory. As you may have seen at your feeders this relatively large sparrow is a big time kicker, making feeding in the early season leaf litter and snow much easier. They are often difficult birds to dig up on Christmas Bird Counts as they are shy and like to remain hidden or close to a ready escape most of the time. If you have never had one in your yard try placing seed on...
Read MoreCold front spurring migration
As thunderstorms are impacting us here in Chautauqua County on the edge of a strong cold front birds are in flight on the cooperative northerly flow in its wake. The roughly circular areas of green are all avian targets being picked up by radar stations behind it. They appear centered only because the EM pulse rises as it moves away in all directions from the radar and most birds are flying a few to several thousand feet up. The hole in the middle is the cone of silence as the pulse does not go straight up and is sent out at a low altitude. In reality birds are flying everywhere in those...
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