For the first time Carol saw either breeding behavior or a youngster begging and being fed at our place. Numbers of Siskins have dropped off fairly steeply but still probably 25 or so. Non bird question...... I hope this is ok. At our house we have rock walls and normally a ton of Chipmunks. This year we have not seen even one! I've also started having customers at the shop ask me where the Chipmunks are. I know last fall was fairly lean for acorns and figured that might have some effect but not this much. So, now I know we aren't alone..... others in other areas seeing the same? Jim The Fat Robin Wild Bird and Nature Shop 3000 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06518 www.fatrobin.com 203-248-7068 Toll Free U.S. 1-866-Fat-Robin Jim Zipp Bird Photography www.JimZipp.com

Hi Jim: I have seen only one chipmunk in my yard this spring.  It finally emerged on April 24, which is pretty late.  Usually there are 2 - 3 chasing each other around under the feeders.  I thought maybe it was the harsh winter....  BTW, there was a weasel poking through the stone wall by the feeders at Bent of the River on Sunday!Judy ----- Original Message -----From: Jim Zipp Date: Monday, May 4, 2009 3:26 pmSubject: [CT Birds] Siskins and ChipmunksTo: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org> For the first time Carol saw either breeding behavior or a > youngster begging and being fed at our place. Numbers of > Siskins have dropped off fairly steeply but still probably 25 or > so. > > Non bird question...... I hope this is ok. At our house we > have rock walls and normally a ton of Chipmunks. This year we > have not seen even one! I've also started having customers at > the shop ask me where the Chipmunks are. I know last fall was > fairly lean for acorns and figured that might have some effect > but not this much. So, now I know we aren't alone..... others > in other areas seeing the same?> > Jim> > The Fat Robin Wild Bird and Nature Shop> 3000 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06518> www.fatrobin.com> 203-248-7068> Toll Free U.S. 1-866-Fat-Robin > > Jim Zipp Bird Photography www.JimZipp.com> _______________________________________________> This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological > Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in > Connecticut.For subscription information visit > http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org

Jim, My husband just mentioned this yesterday about chipmunks. I have seen very few and also have the perfect environment for them. They're usually under the bird feeders, filling their cheeks. ~Carol Bauby, Harwinton Jim Zipp wrote: > For the first time Carol saw either breeding behavior or a youngster begging and being fed at our place. Numbers of Siskins have dropped off fairly steeply but still probably 25 or so. > > Non bird question...... I hope this is ok. At our house we have rock walls and normally a ton of Chipmunks. This year we have not seen even one! I've also started having customers at the shop ask me where the Chipmunks are. I know last fall was fairly lean for acorns and figured that might have some effect but not this much. So, now I know we aren't alone..... others in other areas seeing the same? > > Jim > > The Fat Robin Wild Bird and Nature Shop > 3000 Whitney Ave. Hamden, CT 06518 > www.fatrobin.com > 203-248-7068 > Toll Free U.S. 1-866-Fat-Robin > > Jim Zipp Bird Photography www.JimZipp.com > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.16/2094 - Release Date: 05/03/09 16:51:00 > >

I can echo this phenomenon - I would estimate we had over 50 here last fall.  In past winters, on warm winter days they would typically come out sample the feeder droppings, then disappear again.  But by late winter, on warm days I saw only one, on one occasion.  And since April, when they typically came out of hiding, again I have seen only one. We had attributed it to the pair of barred owls which moved in, but were puzzled that chipmunks would be active at night...  While it might be due to a lack of acorns, there is certainly no lack of bird seed at my house as a substitute, so they should not have starved.  Quite a mystery. Carole Donagher Farmington ________________________________ From: Carol Bauby <gypsy.carol@charter.net> To: Jim Zipp <jimzipp@sbcglobal.net> Cc: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org Sent: Monday, May 4, 2009 3:03:18 PM Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Siskins and Chipmunks Jim, My husband just mentioned this yesterday about chipmunks.  I have seen very few and also have the perfect environment for them.  They're usually under the bird feeders, filling their cheeks. ~Carol Bauby, Harwinton Jim Zipp wrote: > For the first time Carol saw either breeding behavior or a youngster begging and being fed at our place.  Numbers of Siskins have dropped off fairly steeply but still probably 25 or so.  > Non bird question...... I hope this is ok.  At our house we have rock walls and normally a ton of Chipmunks.  This year we have not seen even one!  I've also started having customers at the shop ask me where the Chipmunks are.  I know last fall was fairly lean for acorns and figured that might have some effect but not this much.  So, now I know we aren't alone..... others in other areas seeing the same? > > Jim > > The Fat Robin Wild Bird and Nature Shop > 3000 Whitney Ave.  Hamden, CT 06518 > www.fatrobin.com > 203-248-7068 > Toll Free U.S.  1-866-Fat-Robin  > Jim Zipp Bird Photography  www.JimZipp.com > _______________________________________________ > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.287 / Virus Database: 270.12.16/2094 - Release Date: 05/03/09 16:51:00 > >  _______________________________________________ This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. For subscription information visit http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org