Bravo for a full day of braving the elements to sight and count the birds on your route! I do wonder how much Bird Flu is playing a factor in there being fewer birds, along with all of the other things you site as making their lives difficult. I will look forward to hearing what you see on your future trips! Thank you again for being out there and doing this!!
Bird Flu IS a problem but not everywhere and not with all species (yet). A couple of years ago we visited the Iles-de-la-madeleine and there were dead seabirds everywhere when we walked the beaches. Climate change and habitat loss are probably more important factors hereabouts right now, but be vigilant.
I congratulate you for your hardiness, and thank you for your bird counting service, Richard! Looking at your photos, I can actually feel the windchill deep within my bones, even from ~5000 kms away here in balmy southwest Mexico...where my birding is as simple and lazy as looking up from my tablet every once in a while when I hear someone cheeping, warbling or screeching nearby. Granted thought, there is no chance of Snowy Owls down here. ;-) My favourite garden visitor is the Mexican Blue Mockingbird - the opera singer of Mexican birds. (Mexican's call it the bird of 400 voices). Happy New Year - hope you're having a cozy day in front of the fireplace.
Bravo for a full day of braving the elements to sight and count the birds on your route! I do wonder how much Bird Flu is playing a factor in there being fewer birds, along with all of the other things you site as making their lives difficult. I will look forward to hearing what you see on your future trips! Thank you again for being out there and doing this!!
Bird Flu IS a problem but not everywhere and not with all species (yet). A couple of years ago we visited the Iles-de-la-madeleine and there were dead seabirds everywhere when we walked the beaches. Climate change and habitat loss are probably more important factors hereabouts right now, but be vigilant.
I congratulate you for your hardiness, and thank you for your bird counting service, Richard! Looking at your photos, I can actually feel the windchill deep within my bones, even from ~5000 kms away here in balmy southwest Mexico...where my birding is as simple and lazy as looking up from my tablet every once in a while when I hear someone cheeping, warbling or screeching nearby. Granted thought, there is no chance of Snowy Owls down here. ;-) My favourite garden visitor is the Mexican Blue Mockingbird - the opera singer of Mexican birds. (Mexican's call it the bird of 400 voices). Happy New Year - hope you're having a cozy day in front of the fireplace.