On Tuesday, before the storm hit in earnest, I saw flocks of Canada Geese flying southeast over the airport throughout the day. These birds were flying at higher altitudes than the local flocks do when wandering around feeding and there were far more birds moving than what I usually see when the locals are movig around. On my drive home to Westminster in mid-afternoon I continued to see these flocks flying to the southeast as I drove north. All told, the flocks totalled several thousand birds. 

My guess is these are the birds that have been wintering in the agricultural areas of central Maryland and Pennsylvania and they have given up on being able to find food in these areas and are being displaced by the heavy snows of this past weekend in search of alternate feeding grounds.
 Edward Boyd
Westminster, MD 




________________________________
From: Sue Hamilton <>
To: 
Sent: Wed, February 10, 2010 3:11:24 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Times must be tough

Tough when the grackles take over the sunflower seed feeder, and the blue jays eat suet.  Had two dozen cmmon grackles, one starling, one bluebird, 6 Am. robins along with the usual visitors.  At least the squirrels have deserted the area.
 
I keep hoping for a rusty, but no luck.
sue hamilton
calvert co