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Subject:

Not Song Sparrows but Mourning Doves

From:

Karen Harris

Reply-To:

Karen Harris

Date:

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 04:32:57 -0700

People keep asking me about the lack of Mourning Doves.

Karen Harris
Talbot County, MD

Sent from my iPad

On Sep 24, 2010, at 12:40 AM, Jim Moore <> wrote:

Hi guys,

I saw a Song Sparrow a week ago and it also occurred to me how few I had seen recently.  EBird data confirms a decline in these and the other species Bob mentions.  Average birds-per-list data for the state of Maryland the last two months are as follows:

2009--Aug--Sep

SOSP:  .51, .49
NOMO:  .69, .79
CAWR:  .94, 1.77

2010--Aug--Sep

SOSP: .24, .16
NOMO: .55, .55
CAWR:  .70, .98

Song Sparrow declines are the most dramatic -- declining by more than 50% compared to last year.  On the bright side though August and September are the months of the year with lowest Song Sparrow numbers even in a normal year.  Things will pick up of course in October when migrants add to the totals.

Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland
PLEASE REPORT YOUR BIRD SIGHTINGS to http://ebird.org/



On 9/23/2010 10:51 PM, Bob Ringler wrote:
Dan,
   I believe that last winter's heavy snows are at least partly to blame for
the lack of Song Sparrows. Like the Carolina Wrens it seems that many
resident Song Sparrows may also have perished. Another factor may have been
the hot, dry summer which adversely affected breeding success this year and
discouraged multiple broods. I also believe that Mockingbirds have been
similarly affected. On the Coastal Plain it may not be as apparent as it is
here in the Piedmont. There are probably other factors as well. The local
Song Sparrows are quiet now and northern migrants have not yet arrived.

On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 9:23 PM, Dan Haas<>  wrote:

Anyone else noticing a complete lack of Song Sparrows these days?  I
can see that there have been a few recent sightings in our region, but
the numbers seem noticeable and low. I recall that they are not as
abundant this time if year, but...

Thoughts?

Good Birding,

Dan Haas
West Annapolis, MD