Comments on: My Big Three http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/05/05/my-big-three/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:39:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: The Sutro Forest Birdcam Blog » Blog Archive » Song Sparrow! http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/05/05/my-big-three/#comment-26 The Sutro Forest Birdcam Blog » Blog Archive » Song Sparrow! Fri, 18 May 2007 05:04:45 +0000 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/05/05/my-big-three/#comment-26 [...] As I mentioned in My Big Three, I’d really love to get a shot of one of these guys myself with the birdcam, but so far, no luck. [...] [...] As I mentioned in My Big Three, I’d really love to get a shot of one of these guys myself with the birdcam, but so far, no luck. [...]

]]> By: elanus http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/05/05/my-big-three/#comment-19 elanus Tue, 08 May 2007 14:38:13 +0000 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/05/05/my-big-three/#comment-19 Ah. That helps explain things. Okay. I'll wait six months. Thanks! Ah. That helps explain things. Okay. I’ll wait six months. Thanks!

]]> By: morgan http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/05/05/my-big-three/#comment-18 morgan Tue, 08 May 2007 07:27:58 +0000 http://www.elanus.net/sutro/2007/05/05/my-big-three/#comment-18 So, if you really want Golden-crowned Sparrow, here is what you need to do: wait 6 months. Golden-crowneds are highly abundant (with white-crowneds) in the SF region during the winter, but all vacate in the springtime for more northern areas. The few that were around during the beta-test were the very final traces of Zonotrichias hanging around the Bay area. Their departure coincides pretty well with the arrival of other species, such as grosbeaks (which arrived just when the birdcam went live). The departure theory may also work with Song Sparrows which -- although they do breed in the Bay area -- have winter populations along the coast that are boosted by winter migrants. They also change habitat and behavior as the breeding season starts and are less likely to gather around feeders. At least that's my experience with them. And lesser goldfinches? I don't know why they don't like the thistle feeder more. It's a shame. So, if you really want Golden-crowned Sparrow, here is what you need to do: wait 6 months. Golden-crowneds are highly abundant (with white-crowneds) in the SF region during the winter, but all vacate in the springtime for more northern areas. The few that were around during the beta-test were the very final traces of Zonotrichias hanging around the Bay area. Their departure coincides pretty well with the arrival of other species, such as grosbeaks (which arrived just when the birdcam went live).

The departure theory may also work with Song Sparrows which — although they do breed in the Bay area — have winter populations along the coast that are boosted by winter migrants. They also change habitat and behavior as the breeding season starts and are less likely to gather around feeders. At least that’s my experience with them.

And lesser goldfinches? I don’t know why they don’t like the thistle feeder more. It’s a shame.

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