Spring Migrants

[Leslie Kinrys]

My feeders bring in the birds, especially at this time of year when natural foods are so scarce. Yesterday, I had a male Purple Finch, a Fox Sparrow, a Song Sparrow and a White-throated Sparrow. The Pine Siskins are also still coming to the nyger. Today, I had 35 Grackles show up. I have male Red-winged Blackbirds, which hog the feeder and display, to scare off the other birds. I live in the Bathurst/Sheppard area.

[suecan]

I've had the red winged blackbirds at my feeder in downtown Toronto (Queen and Broadview) in larger numbers than usual and they certainly do crowd the smaller birds out. I do have about 8 goldfinches  who sometimes get a look in at the niger feeder and their plumage is getting brighter by the day.
Have other people noticed more redwings and grackles this year as a friend who lives in my neighbourhood has noticed the same thing?

[JimmyM]

Located in the Clarkson area, I too have noticed an increased number of grackles and RWBB's this year as compared to previous . They arrive at my feeders in a mixed flock of about 50 birds and clean them out in a matter of a few hours . Still have juncos and mourning doves cleaning up the scatterings on the ground, goldfinches in full colour at the niger feeder , quite a few chickadees , a few bluejays collecting peanuts from my deck and a beautiful pair of cardinals arrive after the blackbirds leave . I also get a trio of wary crows that visit my deck railing once in a while - I find them an impressive bird and its fun to watch their attics .

[Dr. John]

We're at Broadview at Gerrard. We're getting a fair number of redwings and grackles, though not more than previous years. We are also getting our usual goldfinches, house finches, juncos, mourning doves, blue jays, and cardinals. We did get a female cowbird on one day and the occasional chickadee.

-John