2021 plus:  Low Songbird Abundance

I continued to experience low birdsong when walking in the woods in spring summer fall of these years.  A very noticeable difference compared to the music of bird song I would hear on every forest walk 10-20 years ago.  It has been too often quiet now, so much so that it stands out when there is a strong presence of bird song every now and then.    Elaine F.

I've noticed low numbers of nuthatches and jays in 2024.  In general, songbirds at my feeder are still low.  In 23-24 winter, I used 5 lbs of peanuts every 2 weeks (28 bags for the winter) that fed 16 jays.  For birdseed, I only used about a quarter of what I used to put out.    Deb B.

This spring during the migration period, the numbers of songbirds in the woods near my house on AB hillside seemed even lower than last year. It continued, and seemed even worse, into the time of breeding bird nesting from late May through June solstice,  Four times I was up for the dawn chorus at 3-7am and heard birds only in the single digits, when it normally would be in the tens.  It has been eerily quiet in the woods. Where are the thrushes, warblers, sapsuckers, sparrows and chickadees?      Elaine F.

I have conducted breeding bird surveys in Skagway, on the lower Chilkoot Trail, in Dyea, and along Dyea Road & Klondike Highway, for over two decades. Last year bird numbers in these areas were noticeably lower and this year even more so. Observation conditions were good to excellent both of these years. In some survey stops in prior years I used to have a difficult time discerning the number of individuals singing as there was such a early morning chorus. Not so the past two years. These data are sent to the US Geological Survey for trend analysis. These long term data sets will be important to determine changes in species occurrence and abundance.     Deborah Rudis, Juneau, AK

I have missed robins and Varied Thrushes.  I only heard one Varied Thrush in the nearby woods this summer, whereas there have usually been 3 – 5 singing in mornings.  I didn’t hear any Western Tanagers,  regular visitors, except one near the slide cemetery. It has been a quiet year.      Deb B.

I also thought the summer activity was low.  Not nearly the amount of birds we usually see out here [Dyea].      John McD.

My place near the lookout seemed much quieter than normal. I missed Orange-crowned Warblers that would sing for long intervals from close by. Even the juncos, robins and chickadees seem fewer and not as vocal. The cold spells last winter with a cold, late spring may be part of the cause. This would have affected the emergence and distribution of plants and insects that the passerines depend on.     Mike Konsler

For at least 15 years, I’ve been walking a short path through the woods on AB hillside almost every day, usually twice a day. I’ve been struck by how quiet the woods were this past summer.  The presence of songbirds - thrushes, warblers, chickadees, etc. - seemed reduced from past years.  Especially the Varied Thrush.       Elaine F.

It seemed abnormally quiet in the woods on AB hillside during fall migration. During the September weeks of the season change, I've seen a few of those marvelous fall mixed flocks of songbirds moving through, but again reduced - smaller numbers of flocks, and smaller numbers of birds in each flock. From October to December, the numbers of winter birds seemed low, especially the flocks of crows that were much larger the past few years.      Elaine F.

During fall of 2021, my yard was empty of big numbers of Varied Thrushes and Robins (13+).  Only a couple hung out before migrating.    Deb B.

During the winter of 2020-2021 I estimated that I was spending about $300/month on bird seed, suet blocks (which I bought by the box) and peanuts (25 lbs).  Sometimes 13 jays would show up eating the suet (one block/day), seed from all the feeders and flying off with peanuts from the deck railing. One jay spent most of the winter camped out in a tree by the feeders.  There were  Lots of juncos and chickadees, 3 Red-Breasted nuthatches and an occasional Hairy woodpecker.   

This winter (2021-2022) I’ve seen a maximum of 3 jays at any one time, usually though it’s one or none day after day.  Chestnut-backed chickadees are the most abundant bird at the feeders but only a couple or no Juncos are in the flocks.    Deb B.

Not many birds out here [Dyea] this winter.  John McD.

I have noticed a drop in the number of Eurasian Collared Doves that visit my feeder this Winter.  I have had only one Dove, daily, all winter.   Debbie A.