Barry and Tweeters

I have noticed a real dearth of House Finches around my place in North Everett, starting last year and even more so this year when I've had only one pair at my feeder twice so far this winter. In the ten years I've been here they were the most abundant feeder bird, and in spring typically blaring forth along every street in the hood. On the other hand, while walking down the wooded ravine of Forgotten Creek (about 3 miles south of me) on a warm Febuary afternoon just before our latest snow, I heard quite a few singing away - a nice early season bird chorus.

The reverse of abundance has occured with Dark-eyed Juncos in my yard. For our first 7 years here or so there was hardly a Junco to be seen which seemed a bit unusual. Over the past few years there have been gradually more. This winter we're awash in Juncos - they've replaced House Finches as most common yard bird here. Every year is a bit different birdwise here in our little urban patch.

Jeff Gibson, Everett WA

> From: ubarry at qwest.net
> Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2011 22:41:00 -0800
> To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
> Subject: [Tweeters] House Finches
>
> Hi Tweets,
>
> There seems to be a lot less House Finches in my neighborhood this winter than usual. I've been getting one pair visiting my feeder every so often this winter. In most other years I've had regular feeding frenzies of House Finches, but not this year. Has anyone else noticed a decline in House Finches?
>
> Barry Ulman
> Bellingham, WA._______________________________________________
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