Jack Burns Lives!

Still No Birds

So not only are the juncos absent, but so are several other species. I’ve seen very few Northern Cardinal, sparrows, Robin or Red-bellied woodpeckers, species normally in abundance year round.

First it was the frogs and toads. Then the honeybees. Now the birds.

I realize my home is just one small area and that I’d have to extend the area of observation to formulate a reasonably tested hypothesis, but my instinct and simple powers of observation tell me something is going on.

I can tie the absence of amphibians to lawn chemicals, and it may have something to do with the birds disappearing, since chemicals affect native grasses and plants. This affects the insect population. In short, you can’t screw up one thing without affecting another.

I should probably add chipmunks to the list, as well. Seeing fewer of them.

About the only thing in abundance are Eastern squirrels.

Comment from Memphis Blue - December 19, 2008 at 5:15 pm

All of the chipmunks must be at my house.
I’ve got so many that the hawks are using my backyard as a buffet line. One exceptionally large hawk swooped down on my 130 pound Old English Sheepdog…talk about balls!