new birds

Dan G · Thu Nov 19, 2020 1:04 pm

: eve.grosbeaks.png (129.28 KiB) Viewed 6665 times

I know this is the martin forum, and i am a wannabee. But we had these birds show up 11-16-20. I guessed by the beaks that they were a grosbeak, but had never seen them. We reside in central PA and thought i would share. I guess they come farther south during an irruption year when there food sources in Canada are scarce.

yomamab · Thu Nov 19, 2020 6:10 pm

Wow, lucky you to get to see them at your place! We've had Evening Grosbeaks here several times over the years, but I'd say that they haven't been here in about 20 years. They're a very impressive looking bird!
Cathy

Dave Duit · Fri Nov 20, 2020 7:15 pm

Beautiful birds and great pic. I have seen a few here in Iowa in the past. Thanks for sharing the pic.

MartinBoy14012 · Sat Nov 21, 2020 12:52 pm

Beautiful birds! We had a group of Evening Grosbeaks hanging out at our bird feeder back in October.

Kegger · Sat Nov 21, 2020 3:24 pm

cool looking bird!
is this a baby owl of some kind?

Hanaho01 · Sun Nov 22, 2020 10:48 am

Awesome........just put out tray feeder... hoping. A few reports in Tennessee so far. Number of Siskin's crazy this year. Over 30 this morning at my feeders

C.C.Martins · Sun Nov 22, 2020 11:44 am

Kegger,
Neat bird but tough to tell, dont see ear tufts. Looks kinda like a burrowing owl, but id guess a hawk of some kind? Do you see it around often? Owls are dangerous towards martins.

Dan G · Mon Nov 23, 2020 11:07 am

I would guess a coopers or sharpshinned hawk. The head resembles them as well as the steely blue color. But not sure

tboydshirt · Wed Nov 25, 2020 11:34 am

hi dan. your history looks the same as mine one state west. i've been trying or 6 years and have been teased every year with lookers and loners. i hope we both strike gold, no, wait, purple next year. one thing we are getting are loads of tree swallows. we also are getting more rose breasted grosbeaks to our feeders every year.

Dave Duit · Tue Dec 15, 2020 3:26 pm

Hi Dan,
The person to identify these birds would be Tim G. His online name is avesrun. He is an avid birder and conservation officer in Polk County Iowa and one of my members in the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Send him a PM with the attached pic and he will be a great resource in helping you out with the id. Tell him Duit said to get in contact with you. In my educated opinion, I'm 95% sure they are Evening Grosbeaks.

philsand · Sat Dec 26, 2020 7:33 pm

I am wondering if there is any correlation between having bird feeding stations and having difficulty attracting nesting purple martins. Bird feeders attract sparrows and starlings. And the birds and squirrels attract hawks to the area.
It would be interesting to hear from people as to their experiences.

Dan G · Tue Dec 29, 2020 8:26 am

I’m not sure if feeding them is detrimental to my attempts to be a Martin landlord, but i have read that house sparrows do not travel too far. The ones that visit my feeder only travel about five more feet as they fall to the ground. Same with the starlings. So that may be an advantage of feeding them but who knows. I have few squirrel or hawk sightings.

I have seen a larger # of sparrows this winter and have attributed that to my neighbors not feeding this year as the pandemic has taken a toll financially on so many.
So maybe I will have fewer issues in the spring. We are fortunate to live in a rural area where shooting is an option.