--- Marie Schatz <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> So I wonder, if there seems to be an irruption, and/or early migration and/or
higher number of birds coming further south - is that more about past and
current weather/food conditions, or does it indicate a bad winter on the way?
Or both?
> I thought a mild winter was predicted?

The birds move south as a response to the inadequacy of their current food
sources. In particular many of Canada's seed-producing tree species didn't
produce much of a crop this year. The winter finch forecast contains some
details:

http://www.ofo.ca/reports%20and%20articles/winterfinches.php

Happy birding,
Paul

Paul Gardner
Columbus, OH

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