BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 20, 2024
Maine’s backyards are connected to eastern Canada’s vast forest. Winter conditions there affect what we see here. Canadian biologists participating in the Finch Network predicted pine grosbeaks would stay north this winter. So far, they’ve been uncannily correct. The finch forecast predicts a moderate southward movement of evening grosbeaks this winter. Purple finches were predicted to leave Canada, and they did. It looks like they have also departed northern Maine. Redpolls were predicted to stay north this winter. So far, they have. Pine siskins were predicted to stay north of the border in their search for adequate balsams. So far, that’s exactly what’s happening. Red crossbills are not coming into Maine much, yet. White-winged crossbills were predicted to stay north. Most have. The Finch Network predicted that Canada’s healthy fruit crop would keep the Bohemian waxwings out of Maine this winter. Sure enough, they’re all over mountain ash berries in Québec. Blue jays were predicted to move south in big numbers. Supposedly, that is happening. But you can’t prove it in my yard. They’re cleaning out my feeder daily. ~ Bob Duchesne