Dakota Beacon

I’m always astounded by the birds at my feeders in January and February. Only the toughest survive the North Dakota winter.

My father-in-law often pointed to the obvious. Birds, like other wildlife and livestock, will survive the North Dakota winter if they have food and a place to escape the wind. The nighttime temperature may fall below zero and the wind-chill drop to minus twenty or thirty degrees, but the next morning, as the sun rises, the birds are busy with breakfast at my feeders.

The Common Redpoll, a member of the finch family, nests in the tundra of northern Canada. Their idea of flying south in the autumn is to migrate to southern Canada and the northern edge of the plains states where they spend the winter. This lends a whole new meaning to the term “snowbird.”

About five inches long, the Common Redpoll (red “head”) takes its name from the jaunty maroon cap pushed forward on the forehead. Other identifying markings include a rosy breast, two narrow wing bars, black chin and streaked rump.

Its close cousin, the Hoary Redpoll, is more frosty appearing with little or no streaking on the rump. Telling the two species apart can be tricky. Although the Hoary Redpoll nests even farther north along the Arctic Ocean, it may be found together with the Common Redpoll in its southern range during the winter.

I’ve spent some entertaining moments observing birds from my kitchen window as they visit the array of feeders I’ve set for them. I’ve wondered if they also find me equally entertaining on the other side of the glass as I sip my coffee. Surely, they must.

Thistle seed by far is the favorite food of Redpolls, but they’ll take other seed including sunflower and millet. They eat equally voraciously at feeders, on the ground or upside-down on a seed bag.

One feeder I offer is a loosely woven eight-inch nylon bag filled with Nyjer (thistle) seed. First one, then another, then another Redpoll flies in to feed. How amusing they appear flying toward the bag of thistle hitting it feet first and sticking to it like Velcro. Nice move for a “thistle missile.”

Redpolls seem more numerous this year. They’re neither aggressive or territorial, just gregarious. I’ve seen them collect in numbers of twenty to thirty at my feeders. At times their numbers may dominate the feeders intimidating the chickadees and nuthatches.

Like chickadees, Redpolls are a rather tame bird and not at all shy of humans, especially at feeding time. I’ve heard of Redpolls sitting on a person’s shoulder or feeding from the hand. They will come within arms reach when I’m filling the feeders.

Last week I experienced my first close encounter with my redheaded friends. The birds were close in the branches excitedly watching as I replenished the feeders. I refilled two feeders and watched as the birds encroached. In a trice it occurred to me to hold one thistle bag motionless. Almost immediately first one Redpoll then another then another settled on the bag. It wasn’t long before they were sitting on my gloved hand and wrist.

What next? I’ve read that Redpolls really enjoy pecking at a salt block and taking water during the winter. I’ve offered water without any takers, but salt I’ve not tried. Maybe I should.

I appreciate Redpoll antics as much as they appreciate my feeders. I’ll delight in their friendship until spring. Then they’ll head north on the leading edge of the great migration to again find their nesting grounds in the Canadian tundra.

When the Redpolls depart rest assured spring will soon follow.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).