We had 4 woodpecker species yesterday at our suet feeders. The
"misses" were Red-Headed, Pileated, and Flicker.
There were a nice variety of year-round and winter visitors. Most
striking to me were two other "missing" species. We saw no Yellow-
Rumped Warblers, and no Pine Siskins.
Based on last winter, I'm not surprised about the Siskins. We had
them here at our feeders every day last winter, but they only arrived
in January. So maybe they just aren't in this area yet, in any numbers.
But where are the all-foraging, find food anywhere Yellow-Rumps? My
son's theory is that they are not appearing at our feeders, because
they are so good at finding alternative food sources. He says, even
after a big snow fall, the Yellow-Rumps will find food somewhere,
without resorting to feeders.
- Steve Johnson
Oakton, Fairfax County, VA
