They are in Ohio, Gandle. Alive and doing well. This seems to be an irruptive year and the counts are unusual for us as well. We have a total absence of American Tree Sparrows this year, who are normally in great abundance, but the finches, junco, woodpecker and nuthatches are making up for them.

A few chickadees are here, along with the snow-forecasting juncoes. Blue Jays are year-round residents and a pair consider themselves in possesion of the beechnut just out the back door. The jays delight in snitching peanuts in mid-air when DH tosses some to Blackie Squirrel.

Lots of sparrows, although they had disappeared for several weeks during October/November. They are year-rounders here, with a large flock alternating between some hollies near the spring, and the boxwoods beside the house ~~ well, from their viewpoint, the house is not important, they hide the bushes beside the big feeder.

Flickers and woodpeckers come and go on their own capricious schedule, but just when we begin to wonder where they are, one or two will show up. Nuthatches, too, appear on their own whim. Although we had a pair staying with us all summer, I haven't seen them since the last ice storm.

A few pairs of goldfinches are year round residents... not the huge flocks of summer, but flashes of bright yellow check out the thistle feeder. The cardinals will re-appear when we get snow. I don't know where they go during good weather!

We haven't had an owl for several years now. The oak that one was using for a nest site fell during a storm, and apparently no other tree suits. There are some hawks in the area; my eyes aren't good enough to determine which species, but I see them swooping up and [later] back to the tops of trees that crowd the creek running at the bottom of the hill.

We get the finches down here in the winter. Unfortunately just as they're starting to get pretty, they head north. I have a nyger seed sock & they just go nuts for it. Also the cedar wax wings are hovering around the feeders right now.

I have never seen an owl in the wild. Urban living, I guess, though I have seen the peregrine falcon that eats our town's pigeons.

Once during the spring I saw four or five blue jays in the yard--more than I had seen since I was a kid. They must have just been passing through, like some sort of gang. But I was sort of thrilled. I'm happy when I see a crow tree, too. West Nile virus wiped out a lot of birds (and a few people) here as well. But I'm pretty sure we have at least a few chickadees.

We have had very few birds of any kind this winter.I wonder where they all are. ne Texas

Chickadees are here but I haven't seen the Titmouse (would the plural be titmice?) who usually accompanies them. Cardinals are here yearround, our most abundant bird. Mockingbirds also here yearround...but they claim separate large spaces and woe unto the one who trespasses...

We have lots of finches. Woodpeckers occasionally show up and Flickers more often. Bluejays are occasional visitors.

DH took one of the large suet wire baskets and hung it horizontally ...the Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Bluejays and even Brown Thrasher will visit it. We got the idea from having a high table for feeding..we noticed the suet/seedcake was popular with almost all visitors. Unfortunately I looked out one day and saw a rat...DH swore it was a field mouse...but the table is no more. The mice may still feed under the hanging feeders/suet cakes but I don't see'em. LOL josh

Minnie, The lack of birds at the feeders are due to the fact that there is a profusion of berries out in the woods this year because of all the rain we had. In my little 2 acres of woods I've noticed that bushes like nandina & American beautyberry have popped up everywhere & are loaded with berries. I guess this is also related to the bountiful crop of acorns we had this fall. The birds are feasting on the fruits of nature as are the squirrels who have also been absent from the feeders. As soon as they've picked the woods bare they'll show up for your sunflower or nyger seeds.

After several years of reduced chickadee numbers here, they're rebuilding well and I'm seeing lots more. I son't think our numbers were reduced by West Nile Virus, because we still have abundant crows and bluejays. But the chickadees are back, whatever caused the reduction.

(And there were over 300 grackles outside yesterday, which was amazingly spooky: all those black splotches in all the leafless trees, accented against the whiteness of the snowy ground. Really an amazing sight).

And suzy: thank you again for the introduction to Feeder Watch. It's something I really enjoy and have introduced others too now.

Juncos, sparrows and the other ground-feeders are not as plentiful this season. But we have tons of robins feasting on the Madrone berries, which are exceptionally plentiful this season. Right now there is an egret by the pond.

The crows are here and in vast numbers. I love watching them return to town to roost after feeding in the fields all day. Sometimes the sky is black with them. Eerie but breath taking at the same time. Lots of jays,cardinals,finches,juncoes,and English sparrows,but not one single chickadee. Come to think of it i havent seen a chickadee in years.

Sara, I don't know where our grackles go of the winter, but if they stick around they hide pretty well. You can tell spring is on its way when we get our first grackles of the season. I think they're a terribly handsome bird, but they pick on the other nesting birds, especially the poor doves when they're on their nests sitting eggs. I love seeing the crows too, Pam. I guess I am just prejudiced toward the big, raucous birds. I like Jays as well.

Our plantings we've put in over the last two decades are surely paying off as far as food and shelter to many birds. This year I've a group of at least four robins who are wintering over. They've nearly cleaned off the little apples from two crab trees so far. I'm happy to see them find food so easily, but suspect that'll impact seeing the hoards of waxwings who usually stop over for a few days to dine on those trees.

I have not seen the first towhee yet since we sat up the feeders. They were here all summer as their call is unmistakable. We are getting our wild turkey population back, however. A young friend of ours bought the pasture land behind us and put it in crops last summer.........the first time that land's been used for at least fifteen years. It's like the ball diamond in Field of Dreams. If you plant it...............THEY WILL COME!