Where are the Songbirds?

Observation by Mike Brubaker:

We have several bird feeders we put up in the winter to feed the songbirds. We regularly see chicadees, nut hatches, red polls, and the occasional cross bills, stellar jays and a few other types that come to our feeders. Usually it take a few days for the birds to show up. I put the feeder out around Thanksgiving and have been watching and monitoring the seed level. No evidence of a single bird yet. I was thinking maybe there was something wrong with the feed, or that all the birds had found a better feeder the frequent. When the temperatures got really cold earlier in this month, I really expected the birds to show up. But there were almost none.

My mom lives on the East side of Anchorage and keeps a close eye on her feeders. She has also reported very few song birds. I talked with my neighbor Chris Bacon who is also avid with feeders. I sent Chris a text to at the start of December asking if he was seeing any birds:

We were but they have at least somewhat disappeared. We started November with a few dozen boreal and black capped chickadees, nuthatches, and our usual several Stellar Jays. the last week or so I haven’t seen more than half a dozen birds at a time. The Jays were here Monday. Last year we had a chickadee drought with hoards of redpolls and we went through at least 200# of seed. We are feeding 100% hulled sunflower and beef suet this year and no birds to eat it (actually we’re probably at 30# now, but the squirrels are helping…). Thinkiing about doing the Christmas bird count this year, partly out of interest in what others are experiencing. Just checked the back yard and saw one black capped fluttering amongst the trees.

And then again on December 19th:

Still just a few birds here. Haven'nt even seen our normal woodpeckers here.

As Chris mentioned, last winter the redpolls were insane, mobbing the feeders, frightening away other songbirds, and emptying feeders. I wonder if that had anything to do with it. The number of other song birds at that time (winter 2023-2024) were also fewer, but we wrote it off to the redpolls as the cause.

LEO Network Says:

We have reached out to a few friends in the wildlife community for their insights.

Comment by Julie Hagelin with Alaska Department of Fish and Game:

Thanks for the concern and observations. Redpolls are known to be “irruptive” species, meaning some years populations are very high numbers, followed by very low years. It is their natural history, which differs from other backyard species. In recent years, Redpolls have been unusually high due to a population “boom.” It was normal to see LOTS at once, taking over feeders. If there are fewer now, that is normal, because we expect it after a couple boom years. As for the other species, I don’t have a good answer. I can see why you are concerned. If it helps, I subscribe to a couple birding listservs with local and regional experts, and the pattern you describe is not a widespread issue or concern in the birding community or among experts right now. People love their feeder visitors! As you mentioned below, it might be something fairly simple. For example, I’ve seen big changes in backyard birds occur when a neighbor puts up a feeder with something novel or tasty (peanut butter or suet) that attracts local birds away! Eventually they return. If weather changes like rain or icing events make birds wet, cold and hungry, I’d expect them to show up at the feeder more…If weather is milder, or there’s a better food source, perhaps they are less interested?

I’m sorry I’m at a loss to explain things very well for you! Take care—Happy Holidays and Happy Birding!

Julie C. Hagelin, Ph.D. Statewide Conservation & Management Coordinator Wildlife Biologist 4

Threatened, Endangered and Diversity Program Alaska Department of Fish and Game 1300 College Rd Fairbanks, AK 99701