Jim McCormac

Columbus, Ohio

http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/

39 species, collectively, comprise the 15 region’s Top Ten

That’s only 4% of all of the bird species in North America

Most birds DO NOT visit feeders

They require large tracts of natural habitats with natural food sources

1. Dark-eyed Junco

2. Chickadees

3. American Goldfinch

3. Downy Woodpecker

3. House Finch

4. Mourning Dove

5. Blue Jay

Robert Royse

John Pogacnik

One of 10 species of bark creepers

Only one that descends headfirst

“hatches” nuts; wedges them tightly and cracks with bill

Great loyalty; pairs seem to mate for life and always remain in close proximity

One of only 24 cavity-nesting birds

Was probably rare in Ohio a century ago

Has steadily expanded northward

Curiously absent from the Lake Erie islands

One of seven Ohio woodpecker species

By far the most common

Feathered nostrils

Strong neck muscles, cushioned brain

Keystone species: helps chickadees and titmice

Native to western North America

Eastern birds the result of 1940 NYC introduction

First Ohio record in 1964; widespread by mid-80’s

Males’ coloration can be wildly variable, from red to orange to yellow

Huge consumer of tree nuts, such as acorns

One bird can bury several thousand nuts in one fall

Jays replanted oak forests on the heels of glaciation

Some populations are highly migratory

The most conspicuous molt of our birds

Very late nester, often not until July

Much attracted to thistle seed

Largely unaffected by cowbirds

Far more abundant than prior to European settlement

2nd most common North American bird

Up to 30 million harvested annually

Can nest any month of the year

Longevity record: 31 years

Two species: Black-capped and Carolina

They readily hybridize where ranges meet

Easily enticed to nest in appropriate boxes

Great memory: can locate seeds a month after caching them

Black-cappeds are EXTREMELY hardy

1-800-WILDLIFE

Was probably largely absent prior to European settlement

Official bird of seven states

“Bald” cardinals often seen

Nearly half of all nests parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds

Oldest wild cardinal was 16+

Most numerous sparrow in North America

About 630 million of them!

Abundant “snowbird” feeder visitor, but very rare Ohio breeder

Hoary Redpoll John Pogacnik

John Pogacnik

Chuck Slusarczyk

Bernie Master

Bernie Master

Bernie Master

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Allen Chartier Bruce Glick Bill Hilton Bernie Master Bruce Miller John Pogacnik Robert Royse Tom Ruggles Chuck Slusarczyk

Jim McCormac Columbus, Ohio

http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com