Every year at this time, our Weeping Cherry (Snowfountain) bursts with showy white flowers that seemingly light up the front of our house, especially at dusk. The bloom is fairly short-lived, but made even shorter thanks to both House Finches and Cardinals who every year enjoy eating something inside the flower itself as the petals rain to the ground when they're at work. Another observation is 0 chipmunks thus far- I know their populations (much like voles around the house) ebb and flow in 3-5 year cycles, but 0? We had them last Autumn so I can only imagine the deep snow for an extended period did them in (e.g. perhaps couldn't venture out of their burrows for replenishments if Fall harvest ran out- not many acorns as I recall). Joe Bear Wilton Go GATORS! *"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt."* *-John Muir*

We have the same situations: house finches eating weeping cherry blossoms. Although the flock has decreased to the low single digits lately. I haven't seen cardinals eating them yet. We have also seen 0 chipmunks. 2 years ago we were overrun with them. Last year much fewer. A single female purple finch has been around lately, as has 1 white throated sparrow. 1 chipping sparrow has returned. 2 juncos yesterday (only 1 so far today) are lingering. The bluebird pair may have eggs and the pileated nest cavity appears to be complete. Rob Ballinger - Clinton On Sat, Apr 17, 2021, 9:51 PM Joe Bear <joebear.gator@gmail.com> wrote: > Every year at this time, our Weeping Cherry (Snowfountain) bursts with > showy white flowers that seemingly light up the front of our house, > especially at dusk. The bloom is fairly short-lived, but made even shorter > thanks to both House Finches and Cardinals who every year enjoy > eating something inside the flower itself as the petals rain to the ground > when they're at work. > > Another observation is 0 chipmunks thus far- I know their populations (much > like voles around the house) ebb and flow in 3-5 year cycles, but 0? We > had them last Autumn so I can only imagine the deep snow for an > extended period did them in (e.g. perhaps couldn't venture out of their > burrows for replenishments if Fall harvest ran out- not many acorns as I > recall). > > Joe Bear > Wilton > > Go GATORS! > > *"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt."* > *-John Muir* > This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) > for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut. > For list rules and subscription information visit > https://www.ctbirding.org/birds-birding/ct-birds-email-list/ >