As someone studying redwing nesting and nestlings in the 89-2000 region, I can say they were incredibly variable 3 decades ago. They could easily show up in February when the winter was warm. We had actual females back in a marsh near Binghamton/Endicott as early as February. Usually females did not show up until late march. I don’t mean nest, just be seen in flocks and maybe visit the marsh.
In the years 95 and 97-98, which were incredibly warm winters, we had redwings at feeders being reported all winter—some people were emailing me! In 98, a very warm spring, I had two first year females that were banded on Cornell ponds (by me) back on the ponds in spring…possible explanation was that they never went anywhere all winter and thus failed to disperse. Redwinged blackbird males were also staying all winter or reappearing during the winter in SW Michigan in the 80’s, in warm ups, like robins. Not many but some. These are birds whose migratory pattern set them up well to respond strongly to climatic shifts. No doubt that the mean dates have shifted, but I can look up first arrivals and first egg dates across the 90’s decade at some point, for comparsion—at some point! Anne B Clark 147 Hile School Rd Freeville, NY 13068 607-222-0905 [email protected] > On Feb 18, 2020, at 11:17 PM, Nigel <[email protected]> wrote: > > The RWB are about 1 month early - they used to show up mid to late March. > We had at least 6 Monday afternoon. They looked more like yellow wing > blackbirds - the wing stripe was a very dull muddy yellow. There were also > some Starlings mixed in. > The hills are alive with the sounds of ... RWB. > > Nigel, near the Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, West Danby, NY > > > There are currently three male Red-winged Blackbirds on the ground under > > our feeders on Muriel Street in Ithaca NY. Nice to see. Welcome back guys. > > Linda Orkin > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > Archives: > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > Please submit your observations to eBird <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
