Winter birds will not leave!!

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Anyone else having trouble with the “winter birds”, such as juncos and white crowned sparrows (here in Missouri) not wanting to leave and go home? Here the juncos (also called winter birds) finally left about 2 weeks ago, but those white-crowned sparrows will just not give up! I quit feeding the peanut butter suet (which they love) so they would get the idea, but no, they still are around. My pair of blues have 3 eggs in a nice nest nest and I want to start feeding the mealworms that I have had for about 3 weeks, but can’t because I can’t afford to feed worms to those sparrows, also. I am trying to watch and put out just a very few worms when I see my blues in the trees, but this is a pain. Oh well, at least I have 3 blue eggs – surely those winter birds will give up soon.

Let the games begin!!

[phillyblues]

🤣Hahaha! I was thinking the same thing the past few days. It has been so nice out but I just cannot relax until the white throats and juncos leave! I was telling my wife, there must be cold weather ahead because those birds always know! White throats are singing like crazy too. Hopefully they get on their way soon.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

I guess white throats and white crowned are two different sparrows? Mine around here really do have white crowns, or white stripes on top of their head. Where do you all live?

[phillyblues]

I’m in SE PA. Near Philly. Not sure I have ever seen a white crowned sparrow, but maybe I assumed they were white throated aince they look similar. I just knew that weather wasn’t going to stay warm…the juncos knewwww….dropped to 60 degrees today with no sunshine. Could be worse I guess.

[David in Stafford,VA]

I still have a few juncos but not many sparrows at the feeders. I have not seen a house sparrow (male or female) in almost 2 years. None of the other birds have gone to the mealworm feeder. The bluebirds guard it closely. I do have a lot of gold finches and some house finches at the finch feeder. My wife counted 18 at one time trying to use the Nyger seed feeder.

David
Stafford, VA

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Good news on your 1st egg, David (other post). By the way, would you like me to send you a few HOSP since you have not seen any for a couple years – be glad to help you out!

[David in Stafford,VA]

Thanks Carol – but I do not need any house sparrows around here. Our wren count seems to be down also.

David
Stafford, VA

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