Hi fellow birders, For those keeping track of Finch movements, I have the following to report. Since November 2002 the Sault and area has had only a few reports of Purple Finch. On Saturday morning (February 1, 2003) I came across a massive group (at least 300) of Purple Finch all together in one spot along a stretch of highway, just outside of Echo Bay (small town just east of Sault Ste. Marie). About 100 of these birds were on the road picking at grit (Salt, Sand and Gravel truck had just come by) and another 200 were in trees and shrubs along the ditch. Some males were singing and many females were feeding on Ash seeds and Birch catkins. Also along this stretch of highway were about 400 American Goldfinch but no other finch/crossbill/grosbeak species were seen and/or heard. A fellow birder in the area was also out on Saturday and saw a number of groups of Purple Finch (20-40 birds per group) between Sault Ste. Marie and Thesselon. These Purple Finch are all new arrivals to the area.
Yesterday afternoon I was snowshoeing at Pancake Bay Provincial Park (45 minute drive north of Sault Ste. Marie) and watched an alert, bright male American Robin chasing a male Red Crossbill from tree-top to tree-top. It is quite odd to see a Robin in this area in the winter and I thought it odd to see one aggressively chasing a crossbill. Ken McIlwrick [EMAIL PROTECTED] Forest Ecologist / Ecologiste forestier Canadian Forest Service / Service canadien des Forests Great Lakes Forestry Centre, 1219 Queen St. E. Centre de foresterie des Grands Lacs, 1219, rue Queen Est Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 2E5 Tel/Tél(705)541-5643,Fax/Téléc (705)-541-5700 "McIlwrick, Ken" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
