According to the internet, in just 40 years, the population of the Evening Grosbeak has declined 78%, from 17 million to 3.8 million! Such a shame they are a pretty bird, looking a little like a parrot.
Thank you so much for your comments and favs on my chipmunk from yesterday.
@jeffinvt The Grosbeaks are a larger bird then the finches too. I have had them at my feeder too, but haven't seen one this year. Great shot and sad about the declining numbers. According to my book they are in Maine year round. They were more common when I was younger and my mother had a feeder.
@onewing Hi Babs thanks for commenting this is what I found on the internet: Recent declines may be due to logging and other development in the boreal forests of northern North America; to disease outbreaks such as salmonella, West Nile virus, and House Finch eye disease; or to reduced numbers of spruce budworm and other forest insects, in part due to aerial spraying by the U.S. and Canada. As climate change alters the landscape over the next century, balsam fir is expected to recede from New England, and Evening Grosbeaks may disappear from this region.
