Rosy-Finch February Newsletter

 

We are now in our third Feeder Count window that runs from February 1-28, 2023

We are always accepting new volunteers to count birds!

Join Us!

Visit the project webpage to learn more and get started.

Less Rosy-Finches At Feeders This Winter?

Many of our project biologists and volunteers have noticed there seem to be less rosy-finches at bird feeders this winter. Portions of the West are having one of the snowiest winters in years. Have our flocks gone further south to find better sources of food? Reports of rosy-finches on eBird.org are slim in the winter, especially from remote desert regions.

We compared the size of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch flocks from three years of December Feeder Counts to track this pattern.

Rosy-Finch Reward Winner
Sally Waterhouse of Nathrop, Colorado

Impressive flocks of rosy-finches! Photo by: Sally Waterhouse

Sally is a retired zoology professor and a real believer in the importance of community science projects. As a birder, she was happy to contribute to this research! Sally recalls seeing her first Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch on a trip to  Jasper, British Columbia in July 1979:

"We moved (to Colorado) 10 years ago and after the first winter we started having rosy-finches appear at our bird feeder.  My first Black Rosy-Finch was at our home in 2014.  I had never seen the large winter flocks of rosies until we moved here and was thrilled that they chose to frequent our feeders.  I'm always excited when they appear and happy to share with others who want to see them."

Thanks for joining us and sharing, Sally!

For a chance at being our next Rosy-Finch Reward Winner,
be sure to sign up for your Feeder Counts and submit your data!

Support Rosy-Finch Conservation

This work depends on the generosity of our community of donors, volunteers, and supporters. We're looking for funding so it can continue into the coming years. 

Do you believe in this project and have the resources to support rosy-finches? Please donate to the Rosy-finch Project today. Make sure to leave a comment indicating that your donation should support the Rosy-Finch Project. 

 
Sierra Hastings