[mou] Species diversity & population
Pastor Al
PastorAl@PrincetonFreeChurch.net
Wed, 7 Jan 2004 15:30:21 -0600
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Have recently relocated to central MN from southern WI (perhaps a three =
hour north and two to three hour west transition). During five weeks of =
birding, have noticed drops both in winter species diversity (expected) =
but also in numbers of birds seen/experienced per species (less =
anticipated).
Mourning Doves, Cedar Waxwings, Juncos, Tree Sparrows, Goldfinches have =
all become occasional (seen most often in groups of 1-3 rather than =
small to medium sized flocks) - have noted some decreases in woodpeckers =
and Red-tailed Hawks - House Sparrows, House Finches, and Northern =
Cardinals are nearly non-existent - only increases of note have been in =
the numbers of Purple Finches, Common Redpolls, RB Nuthatches, Pileated =
Woodpeckers and Bald Eagles. Winter walks (1-1.25 hours in duration) in =
Madison, WI would usually net 15-23 species, 7-12 is more typical here =
in similar areas (wooded trails with some open fields, often near water) =
- and individual numbers of birds have dropped from 80-100+ to 20-40.
I realize that this is a highly subjective observation with far too many =
variables - and over much too short a period of time - but would welcome =
others' thoughts. Are winter populations (not just diversity but =
individual numbers) of birds significantly less as one ventures north? =
Will this continue over other seasons as well? Is there a possibility I =
just may have moved to a "dead zone" (Princeton, MN - about 50 miles =
north of the Twin Cities - hard to believe with Sherburne NWA on my =
doorstep)? =20
(For fellow MN birders, this not a veiled complaint - I welcome the =
opportunity to be much closer to "winter specialties" - and have =
experienced three lifers in five weeks while traveling north. Just want =
to further understanding and acceptance.)
All comments welcome! Good birding to all.
Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Sherburne & Mille Lacs Counties
(occasionally Madison, WI for a few more weeks)
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Have recently relocated to central MN =
from southern=20
WI (perhaps a three hour north and two to three hour west =
transition). =20
During five weeks of birding, have noticed drops both in winter species=20
diversity (expected) but also in numbers of birds seen/experienced per =
species=20
(less anticipated).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Mourning Doves, Cedar Waxwings, Juncos, =
Tree=20
Sparrows, Goldfinches have all become occasional (seen most=20
often in groups of 1-3 rather than small to medium sized =
flocks) -=20
have noted some decreases in woodpeckers and Red-tailed Hawks - House =
Sparrows,=20
House Finches, and Northern Cardinals are nearly non-existent =
- only=20
increases of note have been in the numbers of Purple =
Finches, Common=20
Redpolls, RB Nuthatches, Pileated Woodpeckers and Bald=20
Eagles. Winter walks (1-1.25 hours in =
duration) in Madison,=20
WI would usually net 15-23 species, 7-12 is more typical here in=20
similar areas (wooded trails with some open fields, often near=20
water) - and individual numbers of birds have dropped from 80-100+ =
to=20
20-40.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I realize that this is a highly =
subjective=20
observation with far too many variables - and over much too short a =
period=20
of time - but would welcome others' thoughts. Are winter =
populations (not=20
just diversity but individual numbers) of birds significantly less =
as one=20
ventures north? Will this continue over other seasons as =
well? Is=20
there a possibility I just may have moved to a "dead zone" (Princeton, =
MN -=20
about 50 miles north of the Twin Cities - hard to believe with Sherburne =
NWA on=20
my doorstep)? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>(For fellow MN birders, this not a =
veiled complaint=20
- I welcome the opportunity to be much closer to "winter specialties" - =
and have=20
experienced three lifers in five weeks while traveling north. Just =
want to=20
further understanding and acceptance.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>All comments welcome! Good =
birding to=20
all.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Al Schirmacher</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Princeton, MN</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Sherburne & Mille Lacs =
Counties</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>(occasionally Madison, WI for a few =
more=20
weeks)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
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