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Winter birds in SE Mi. zone 5

14 years ago

Does anyone have any Red Breasted Nuthatches coming to there feeder? I have not seen one this season which is very unusual. I think this might be what they call and interruption migration year. They actually go farther south in late fall in search of food.-------anyone??--thanks---ED

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Comments (4)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
14 years ago
In some years they can irrupt from their normal winter grounds and move south. I thought I had heard cone production was good to the north this year and irruption to the south might be slim for many species.

tj
kimroy
14 years ago
Hi
I live in Norh western Ont rainy lake and have a a half a dozen coming to my feeders right now, but i noticed all summer they were down in numbers because i will more than often see 12 or 14 of them by mid or end of august.
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Yes, your expectations are reasonable and I think it's possible, especially if you're able to provide some winter protection. If all canes die back to the ground every year, you won't get much size-up, or it will take many years for the plants to establish. If you can bend some culms over, stake them to the ground, then cover them with a tarp or plastic for the Winter, that will keep those culms from dying -- providing you started with a cold-hardy variety to begin with. Michigan Bamboo Company might be a good place to look first. You could also take a look at the BambooWeb forum, as there are several regular posters there who are growing in z5 (not sure about z4 though).
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jomuir
14 years ago
I haven't seen any this year, but we usually only see a few at our house, and they're very skittish when they come. I can barely creep to the window and they see me from a mile away and fly off!

IIRC, I gen. notice them a little later in the winter.
Connie Kru
14 years ago
No red breasted nuthatches and not even a handful of Junco's yet
Connie-SE Michigan

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