Winter Chipping Sparrow

[cairnstone]

I checked eBird and they had never had a sighting reported of a Chipping Sparrow in Peel Region in December before. I have a Chipping Sparrow. It's been around for a couple of weeks now. Snapped a photo this evening in the fading light. The Cooper's Hawk was making everyone's life around the feeders miserable this evening.

[thouc]

Nice find, that one is pretty brightly coloured for a winter bird.

[cairnstone]

Thanks Thomas. Yes it is very brightly coloured. However, I did not find it, it found me. I'll post some better pictures of it if it sticks around.

[cairnstone]

Chipping Sparrow continues. December 14, 2014.

[cairnstone]

Rare winter Chipping Sparrow continues in my backyard. A short video clip from today December 26, 2014:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsM5FZE ... e=youtu.be

[cairnstone]

Chipping Sparrow still here. Let's see what happens with the brutal cold that's on the way next week. I hope he makes it.

[cairnstone]

January 12th and the Chipping Sparrow continues. Tonight will be the coldest night he has had to endure so far. He hasn't a clue what to do at the feeder when it is covered in snow. He needs to wait for other birds to dig the snow out so he can get at the seed. Of course, I help him out if no other birds are around. He seems quite healthy and chubby.

[cairnstone]

January 19 and the Chipping Sparrow continues. He seems to have handled the cold nights well and spends much of the day at the feeder. He doesn't seem to get bullied much by the other birds considering he's the smallest. He has started hanging around with a couple of American Tree Sparrows.

[cairnstone]

There has never been a Chipping Sparrow reported to eBird in February in Peel Region. There is one now. My tiny visitor has toughed out the entire winter here. I make sure he has a food supply and crush peanuts to his preferred size. He's doing well.

[Dinusaur]

There has never been a Chipping Sparrow reported to eBird in February in Peel Region. There is one now. My tiny visitor has toughed out the entire winter here. I make sure he has a food supply and crush peanuts to his preferred size. He's doing well.

Congrats and thanks for taking care of the little one.

[cairnstone]

I am not very optimistic about the survival of my Chipping Sparrow. He appeared this morning clearly struggling in the -25C temperature. He was having balance problems. Hopefully he's found a sheltered spot in the sun to warm himself. Tonight is forecast to be even colder. Hopefully, somehow, he makes it. Doesn't look promising though.

[cairnstone]

After seeing the Chipping Sparrow in distress yesterday morning he did what I hoped he'd do. He took shelter in a spruce against the house and sun-bathed. He recovered enough to return several times to the feeder. I didn't think he'd make it another night, but he did. After basically giving up on him, he returned this afternoon. He seems just fine.

[cairnstone]

My Chipping Sparrow will be the first ever to be reported on eBird for the month of March in the Region of Peel. He has survived the brutal cold in good order. At one point I thought his feet were frostbitten because he was stumbling. Not the case though as they are fully functional. The neighbourhood Cooper's Hawk shows no interest in him or the other sparrows. She's a behemoth and seems to have a penchant for doves. However, a new threat has surfaced. A Sharp-shinned Hawk has appeared within the last week and has been actively and successfully hunting the neighbourhood. Hopefully the Chipping Sparrow's tiny size will make it less appealing.

[cairnstone]

Here's a photo of the tough tiny one in March.

[Brian Bailey]

Wow, he's a toughie! He(?) will be one of those parents who tell their kids, "don't do what I did"


BB

Sent from my birdroid using Tapatalk.