Temperatures have been trending cold since a brief hot spell a few weeks ago. The temperature at night is about 50 degrees and daytimes 60s. Consequently, insects have been slow to hatch. The effect of low insect numbers has been difficulty for birds which feed on them. A neighbor said that many of her Purple Martens had died, likely from malnutrition. They feed on the wing on a feast of flying insects, which have been absent.
Early hatch pheasant chicks would also be vulnerable. Critical to their early diet are insects that provide the protein they need. The sight of pheasant hens with roosters at this date might suggest the hens are re-nesting. Each subsequent nest attempt by a hen has fewer eggs.
Crops are also showing the effects of the cold. The corn and soybeans are barely growing. Corn fields show a yellow cast as the corn responds to the cold.
Todays bird chorus included; Canada Goose, Blue Winged Teal, American Goldfinch, Sedge Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Pheasant, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Marsh Wren, and Western Meadowlark. A mallard hen was spotted with a large clutch of ducklings newly hatched.
Takk for alt,
Al
"Are Common Yellowthroats rare? Abundant and well-known, the Common Yellowthroat has succeeded by being a nonconformist. As the only one of our warblers that will nest in open marshes, it is found in practically every reed-bed and patch of cattails from coast to coast." Audubon Society
No comments:
Post a Comment