The Changing of the Birds

[Debbie]

As a newbie and one who mainly observes birds at my feeders, I wanted to ask a question. For weeks my feeders were inundated with pine siskins. But the past few days, I haven't seen many of them. Someone posted a note from El Paso county about the siskins seeming sickly and then there was one about it possibly being salmonella.

I'm wondering if with the longer days as we're nearing spring, if the birds are just moving on. I've seen more red crossbills than I did before. Lots of chickadees and nuthatches too. The Stellars jays had gotten quiet for a while, but they're back. I even had a Clark's nutcracker visit. My hairy woodpeckers are everyday visitors too.

Is this normal? Are the wintering birds going elsewhere?

[Gary Lefko]

Here is a quick guide for Colorado birds regarding "where are they/when to find them".

http://home.att.net/~borealowl/birdstatus.htm

Pine Siskens are residents year round.

Gary