Some winter views 
     
    
   
   
    
     BY GEOFF HOGAN 
     
    
   
   
    
     I've been keeping in touch with the winter birding 
     
     situation on Prince Edward Island through contacts at my 
     
     nature store in Charlottetown. Here are a few notes re- 
     
    

    
     q \ garding this winter. 
     
    

    
     Overall, it has been a season of contrasts. Like last winter, many 
     
     people are saying that they have far fewer birds at their feeders. This 
     
     is especially true in the urban (and to some extent suburban) areas of 
     
     the Island. On the other hand, there are some excellent feeders in count- 
     
     ry areas (my own included). In towns, most people see only Black-capped 
     
     Chickadees, Blue Jays, Starlings, House Sparrows and Pigeons. There have, 
     
     however, been good flocks (20-30) of American Goldfinches at various 
     
     town feeders. Other finches are much less common. I am only aware of one 
     
     feeder that has had a few Purple Finches all winter. Evening Grosbeaks 
     
     can be found across the Island but they may not be as plentiful as in 
     
     most years. Lots of White-winged Crossbills are about - including one 
     
     seen Feb. 19 with nesting material. Pine Siskins are here but not common. 
     
     A few feeders have reported them. 
     
    

    
     There have been numerous reports of American Robins this winter - 
     
     more than any previous winter in my memory. One man near 
     
     Wheatley River reported 50-60 regularly. Also, many over- 
     
     wintering Northern Flickers are being seen at feeders, 
     
     which is most unusual. Other odddities: 1 Brown Thrasher 
     
     at a feeder in St. Catharines since December; 1 Northern 
     
     Mockingbird at a feeder in New Glasgow since December 
     
     feeding on dead flies in a garage every day; at least 1 
     
     Pine Warbler in Crossroads; 1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 
     
     (juv. male) at a feeder in Mt. Stewart Feb. 19-20; plus 
     
     the first ever P.E.I. record of a Barn Owl in January. 
     
    

    
     The dead bird was found tangled in chicken wire by Scott 
     
     Ellands of Poplar Grove when he checked the family's 
     
    

    
     hen house. Barn Owls are usually found in the United 
     
    

    
     States and range as far north as Southern Ontario. 
     
    

    
     Photos of the bird were taken and the body will be mounted. 
     
    

    
     There have been a scattering of Mourning Doves about, 
     
     becoming fairly typical now in most winters. I have heard 
     
     of a single Common Redpoll, contrasting with two winters 
     
     ago when the region was inundated with them. Small numbers 
     
     of Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds are 
     
     being reported also. The usual wintering raptors are about (Red-tailed, 
     
     Rough-legged and Sharp-shinned Hawks) although the buteos may be less 
     
     common than in some years. 
     
    

    
     This is not meant as a complete list, but should give you some idea 
     
     of the highlights of this winter and how it compares to past ones. 
     
    

    
     And one late report - a male House Finch has been sighted in Char— 
     
    
   
   
    
     lottetown in February, the second confirmed sighting on P.E.I. 
     
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     On February 8, returning from my usual ski to the mailbox, I came 
     
     across a lone Snow Bunting hopping around the field, only able to travel 
     
     a few feet at a time. It looked sure to be dinner for owl, hawk or fox, 
     
     so I easily caught it and took it home. Feeding it cracked corn and water 
     
     and keeping it warm must have done the trick, because after two days it 
     
     was able to fly about 30' in the house. When I released it on a bright, 
     
     sunny afternoon, it flew quite well and made my day. - GS 
     
    
   
   
    
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