[NatureNS] Re: Crossbills at Feeders

Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:31:15 -0400
From: Brian Dalzell <dalzell@nbnet.nb.ca>
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To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
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I have seen them handle (tamarack) cones with their feet much like a 
parrot handles large seeds -- transfering them to the beak area and 
using the crossed-bill (and tongue) to extract the seeds, all the while 
holding the little cone in one foot, and holding onto a branch with the 
other.

Susann Myers wrote:
> Hi, Jim.
>
> Crossbills get the seeds out of niger feeders by using their tongues.  
> In Louisbourg, my feeders were close enough to my window that I could 
> sit and watch them stick their tongues out to get the seeds.  This is 
> perfectly normal for crossbills - it is how they get the seeds out of 
> the cones of coniferous trees.
>
> Cheers,
> Susann
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
> To: "NatureNS" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
> Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 6:43 PM
> Subject: FW: [NatureNS] Some birds this PM
>
>
>> I'm wondering how a crossbill deals with the small access holes in a 
>> Niger
>> feeder in order to extract the seeds -- anybody know??  Cheers from Jim
>> ----------
>> From: Bob McDonald <bobathome@hfx.eastlink.ca>
>> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>> Date: Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:52:57 -0400
>> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
>> Subject: [NatureNS] Some birds this PM
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Wendy and I dropped over to Jean Hartley's location in Rockingham early
>> afternoon and found at least 220 Common Redpolls including at least 
>> one and
>> probably 2 Hoaries.  One female WW Crossbill remained at the niger 
>> feeder
>> throughout. In addition a pair (?) of Pine Grosbeaks and then a large 
>> flock
>> of Bohemian Waxwings (~120) showed up.  The Cardinal and the RC 
>> Kinglet did
>> not!
>>
>> We then went for a walk at Point Pleasant Park.  In addition to the 
>> dozen or
>> so dogs in the "No Dogs Allowed" area, the only species of interest 
>> was a
>> group of about 8 Pine Grosbeaks feeding in the grass just above the high
>> water mark between Black Rock Beach and the Anchor.  On the Northwest 
>> Arm
>> side at the sewage outflow were at least a dozen Iceland Gulls and 25-30
>> Scaup, mostly Greaters, I believe.  A pair of WW Scoters and a C Loon 
>> were
>> farther offshore.
>>
>> On the way home we made a quick stop at Pier 9 but few gulls were 
>> present.
>> It looks as though the sewage outflow here has been discontinued. . . ?
>> Does anyone know more about this location?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Bob McDonald
>> Halifax
>>
>
>

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