[CT Birds] Half Hardy

[David Provencher]

Just back from seeing the Hannah Montana movie with my 9 year old daughter.
I gotta tell ya you haven't lived until you've sat next to a 13 year old boy
who is singing along with Miley Cyrus. Anyway.

 

You were correct with your guess Carolyn. What we refer to as "Half hardy"
birds are individuals of a species that normally winters further south but
have stayed in the north. Classic species that produce half-hardy
individuals include Gray Catbird, Eastern Towhee, Yellow-breasted Chat, etc.
There are half-hardy individuals of varying species each winter. The
percentage of these birds that survive the winter depends upon the severity
of the winter and the state of their food source. One of the reasons this
happens is there is a distinct advantage to a bird to winter closer to its
breeding ground. It places them in the position to claim prime breeding
territory come spring because they are the first ones on territory. Of
course it comes with the risk of not surviving if the weather turns bitter
cold and snowy for a prolonged time. Half-hardy birds are always prized by
listing birders because it helps run up the January tally. Listers (myself
included once upon a time) will drive an hour to "tick" a species in January
that will be common in their yard in May. To paraphrase famed author and
veterinarian James Herriot, "People is funny things."

 

Dave