Evening Grosbeak Irruption Taking Place
Two years ago there was a massive irruption of Evening Grosbeaks across eastern North America. This year’s Winter Finch Forecast predicted a similar southward movement of these big-beaked finches this year and it has begun to be realized. Evening Grosbeaks have been spotted throughout southern Canada, New York and New England and even further south – a welcome sight for all, as Evening Grosbeak populations have declined by 92% in the past 50 years, the steepest decline of any land bird in the continental U.S. or Canada, and sighting one has become a rarity.
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Purple Finches Irrupting
Every year a Winter Finch Forecast (https://finchnetwork.org/winter-finch-forecast-2022-2023 ) is published which predicts which finches in the northern boreal forests might be extending their range south due to a poor food supply farther north. These larger-than-normal movements of birds are referred to as irruptions, and they happen every year, to varying degrees with varying species.
This year’s Winter Finch Forecast predicted that Purple Finches would irrupt southward, following the large spruce budworm outbreak (producing short-term population increases) and poor mast crop in much of the eastern boreal forest. The past few days have proven the forecast right and signaled the start to a large-scale irruption event. Once Black Bears have gone into hibernation and your feeders are up, keep an eye out for ever-increasing numbers of Purple Finches (as well as irrupting Evening Grosbeaks).
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