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Post by deb&tony on Feb 20, 2008 18:40:28 GMT -8
Hi
We've never had Red Crossbills on our property before but today they were out "en force". Approx. 100+ Red Crossbills were on the chimney, the stone courtyard wall, etc. basically wherever there was a mortar joint. Not sure what they were doing?
Deb
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Post by kastern on Feb 20, 2008 19:38:53 GMT -8
On Sunday we drove up to Manning Park and noticed a number of flocks of Red Crossbills in trees right beside the highway, some as low down as the Hope Slide....they must have been moving in your direction. In all the years we've been driving that highway in winter (have relatives in the interior) I have never seen flocks of Crossbills right beside it.
Kathy
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Post by deb&tony on Feb 25, 2008 15:09:04 GMT -8
Hi- The Red Crossbills are still here and a regular fixture on our chimney at the same time every morning- mortar Inspectors? Here are a few pics:   Deb |
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Post by Gord on Feb 25, 2008 15:43:40 GMT -8
Maybe they're after the grit in the mortar?? Weird! Nice pictures. Beautiful birds.
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Post by tuchp on Feb 26, 2008 10:22:58 GMT -8
Hi,
I have a 'Birds of Canada' field guide, by Fred J. Alsop III. Part of the description for Red Crossbill says, "Eats bits of mortar and is attracted to salt licks and to winter salt on the sides of roadways."
I wonder if the pine beetle devastation has anything to do with flocks of them being in areas not previously seen? The huge loss of pine trees certainly must be impacting birds that eat pine cones!
-Pat
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Post by deb&tony on Feb 26, 2008 18:59:45 GMT -8
Thanks for the info Pat. I've been wondering- not only are they a new bird for our property, but they have been here for a week now. We first saw them in the Douglas firs so you may be right about the pine beetle devastation and the fact that they are here and sticking around. A cool observation yesterday morning before they landed on the brick joints, the entire flock of Red Crossbills was down at the river bathing in a pool. That had to be cold water! First sign of Spring for our property: today, a male towhee came looking for a cashew piece. It wasn't safe wandering around the property last year without a few cashews in your pocket with four or five nesting pairs of towhees all looking for a handout.  Deb |
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Post by kastern on Feb 26, 2008 19:13:38 GMT -8
Just managed to take a close look at a picture I snapped over at Eagle Point Park on the 19th....a flock of birds had landed in the top of one of the deciduous trees. Could see some were 'red' but didn't have binoculars with me. After zooming in on the picture could see they were definitely Red Crossbills....so we've had some over here too!
Kathy
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