Dakota Beacon

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

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

The Common Redpoll, a member of the finch family, typically nests in the tundra of northern Canada. Their idea of flying south for the winter is to migrate to southern Canada and North Dakota where they spend the winter. This gives a whole new meaning to the term “snowbird.”

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

The close cousin of the Common Redpoll is the Hoary Redpoll whose coloration 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, he may be found together with the Common Redpoll in its southern range during the winter.

Many entertaining moments have been spent observing birds from the kitchen window as they visit the array of feeders 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.

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 screen tube eight-inches long filled with Nyjer (thistle) seed. First one, then another, then another Redpoll flies in to feed. How amusing they appear flying toward the tube of thistle hitting it feet first and sticking to it like Velcro. Nice move for a “thistle missile.”

Earlier this winter the Redpoll population seemed sparse. All of a sudden, in late January, the Redpoll population tripled. Who knows where they came from? Maybe word got around and they came from neighboring feeders.

Redpolls are neither aggressive nor territorial but they are gregarious. In years past I’ve seen twenty to thirty collect at my feeders. At times their numbers dominate other species 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. Often they will come within arms reach when feeders are being filled.

Last week I experienced another close encounter with the little redheads. The birds were close by in the tree branches excitedly watching as I replenished the feeders. I refilled two feeders and watched as the birds encroached. As I have done before I held out the thistle feeder and stood motionless. Almost immediately first one Redpoll then another then another settled on the tube. It wasn’t long before they were sitting on my head, hand and shoulders!

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.

I’ll miss them. (Sigh.) Redpolls are some of the nicest redheads I’ve known.

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