** Reply to message from Richard the Great re. redpolls, etc.

<snip>
> Even the usually extensive catkin-laden stands of water birch along
> Myers Creek (Chesaw valley) and elsewhere appear distressingly sparse and
> spotty.
<snip>

Welcome ashore, Richard. Good to have you back. Methinks the relative
profusion/lack of natural foods is the key to the presence/absence of
redpolls, etc. At least here in central BC, redpolls are everywhere
feeding on the abundant birch catkins but only seldom found at the many
feeders. However, this could change if the Siberian Express decides to
take over and they need a quicker nutrition fix than natural foods can
give them. The cold air will have to wait until the current massive
ridge moves westward. Current estimates of that happening at Washington
latitudes is early in the New Year.





Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
mailto: jbowling at direct.ca