My First-of-Season Rose-breasted Grosbeak
A female that returned April 26, 2011
A few days ago I wrote a post "Are the Birds EARLY or LATE This Spring?" and determined that most of the spring migrants in my yard returned EARLIER than their average return date. One of the earliest was the Rose-breasted Grosbeak that returned on April 26. This was TEN days earlier than the average return date and the earliest return date ever in my yard.
Unexpectedly, a female returned first, and two males appeared later in the day. I read the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club Birdline emails, and at that time, I didn't remember having seen any reports of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks yet.
The New York State Ornithological Association Kingbird publication lists earliest reported return dates for migrating birds throughout the state, so I looked back 6 years to research the earliest return dates for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in Region 8 - Hudson-Mohawk.
2005 April 24 Lansingburgh Rensselaer County
2006 April 27 Niskayuna Schenectady County
2007 April 17 Claverack Columbia County
2008 April 27 Colonie Albany County
2009 April 26 Palenville Greene County
2010 April 25 Brunswick Rensselaer County
So it appears that my April 26 return date is fairly early, especially from my location in northwestern Saratoga County (all these earlier dates are in counties south of Saratoga.) I reported the sighting on eBird just in case my girl grosbeak was the earliest sighting of 2011 in Region 8!
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Eileen, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks ARE stunning birds. You're comment is a good reminder to me to really appreciate the fact that they breed in my yard! Thanks for the comment and enjoy your grosbeaks while they're there.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | May 19, 2011 at 10:34 AM
I usually only see the Rose Breasted passing thru my yard. This year I must have missed the males because I only saw two females. They are beautiful birds.
Posted by: Eileen | May 17, 2011 at 09:12 AM
John - well I'm glad to hear your orioles were late; gives me hope that mine are still to come! Sorry!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | May 16, 2011 at 07:55 PM
What a beauty! Great post Nancy. Baltimore Orioles just showed up in our yard Saturday, the latest I've ever recorded them. Warblers were a little late too. We've had persistent gales and northeast winds this spring, affecting the northward migration this year.
Posted by: MaineBirder | May 16, 2011 at 11:22 AM