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I got all excited when I spotted a Red-breasted Nuthatch on my peanut feeder last week. I haven’t seen one in a couple of years. They are an irruptive species which means they can appear in different areas from year to year depending on where food is available.
Considering we’ve had a severe drought in much of the Midwest, I would think the spirited little birds would be better off staying in Canada this winter. They eat conifer seeds, and many of our trees are extremely drought-stressed.
I don’t know if my visitor was just passing through, or if he is just one of the first of a group of Red-breasted Nuthatches that will spend the winter here. I’m hoping for the latter because they are one of my favorite backyard birds.