Hi guys,

I saw a Song Sparrow a week ago and it also occurred to me how few 
I had seen recently.  EBird data confirms a decline in these and 
the other species Bob mentions.  Average birds-per-list data for 
the state of Maryland the last two months are as follows:

2009--Aug--Sep

SOSP:  .51, .49
NOMO:  .69, .79
CAWR:  .94, 1.77

2010--Aug--Sep

SOSP: .24, .16
NOMO: .55, .55
CAWR:  .70, .98

Song Sparrow declines are the most dramatic -- declining by more 
than 50% compared to last year.  On the bright side though August 
and September are the months of the year with lowest Song Sparrow 
numbers even in a normal year.  Things will pick up of course in 
October when migrants add to the totals.

Good birding!
Jim Moore
Rockville, Maryland
PLEASE REPORT YOUR BIRD SIGHTINGS to http://ebird.org/



On 9/23/2010 10:51 PM, Bob Ringler wrote:
> Dan,
>     I believe that last winter's heavy snows are at least partly to blame for
> the lack of Song Sparrows. Like the Carolina Wrens it seems that many
> resident Song Sparrows may also have perished. Another factor may have been
> the hot, dry summer which adversely affected breeding success this year and
> discouraged multiple broods. I also believe that Mockingbirds have been
> similarly affected. On the Coastal Plain it may not be as apparent as it is
> here in the Piedmont. There are probably other factors as well. The local
> Song Sparrows are quiet now and northern migrants have not yet arrived.
>
> On Thu, Sep 23, 2010 at 9:23 PM, Dan Haas<>  wrote:
>
>> Anyone else noticing a complete lack of Song Sparrows these days?  I
>> can see that there have been a few recent sightings in our region, but
>> the numbers seem noticeable and low. I recall that they are not as
>> abundant this time if year, but...
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>> Good Birding,
>>
>> Dan Haas
>> West Annapolis, MD
>> 
>>
>
>