The little finch that stole a birder's heart

It was a brisk Friday night in December 2017 that my wife and I went to the then Spitzer Marina/Lorain Impound to see a snowy owl that was reported to be there along the break wall. While we had been backyard birders for many years and had visited Magee Marsh a few times, it was the first time we "chased" a bird — that is, traveled to a specific location to see a reported bird. Thanks to Matt Hall and some other birders, we saw the snowy owl far out in the distance through their spotting scope. Also there that day, the same birders kindly shared with us, were three common redpolls -- small finches sporting red spots on their heads. We got fleeting looks at this adorable little bird as we slowly tracked them along the path. Although I had never heard of a common redpoll before, I found them captivating and wanted more. My wife had to work, but I went back the next day to try to get some better photos. I was unsuccessful, but I consider this the moment — my interest in the three common redpolls more than the snowy owl — that I became a "birder." Almost everyone likes seeing the snowy owl ... they are majestic beautiful raptors; only birders find lesser known birds, like the common redpolls, just as exciting. The common redpoll is one of the "winter finches," which include pine siskins, purple finches and the closely related hoary redpoll. Other winter finches are highlighted by the stunning evening grosbeak, pine grosbeak, red crossbill and white-winged crossbill. Additional winter birds, though not finches, include the red-breasted nuthatch and Bohemian waxwing. This fall we have seen purple finches, red-breasted nuthatches and dozens of pine siskins at our feeders. We thought it had to do with the new property, but then came local reports of evening grosbeak and common redpoll — even hoary redpoll -- sightings. The pine siskins were everywhere. It turns out that we were in the midst of a winter finch irruption! These finches, residents of Canada through the Arctic, are an irregular occurrence to Ohio and this year's movement into our area is a response to available food sources. The food choices of finches can be quite specific — red crossbills like to open conifer seeds with their specialized beaks; white-winged crossbills prefer spruce cones — eating up to 3,000 seeds per day. The common redpolls like the small seeds of birch trees, while the evening grosbeaks feed on box elder seeds. When food sources are interrupted in the northern boreal forests, the birds will move south looking for food, often following "leading lines" along the lake and rivers. Adding to the excitement is that they often eat seeds that are put out in bird feeders such as thistle and sunflower seeds. With most of the migratory birds already headed to warmer climates, it is a thrill to have a visit from any of the winter finches. It turns out the common redpoll is a pretty interesting bird. Some of the facts you find about them on All About Birds is that, although we don't see them here often, they number in the tens of millions — breeding near the Arctic Ocean. They build tunnels in the snow to keep warm, and can survive temperatures of 65 degrees below zero. They are smart birds, easily passing standard intelligence tests. Each one of these winter finches has its own survival strategy, including a contingency plan when they face food shortages. Nature is susceptible to change, and ecosystems like the boreal forest can be affected by climate change, disease and insect outbreaks. One thing affects another and, fortunately for birds, they have evolved over millions of years and developed instinctive ways to adjust when necessary. The small, tough and intelligent common redpoll, though not as dynamic or popular as a snowy owl, will always remain a part of my birding story, fondly revisited each winter. Despite an array of feeders, filled with their favorite foods, tucked into a diverse woody area, we didn't see any redpolls this year — yet I found it comforting just knowing they were around. A few weeks after seeing the snowy owl and common redpoll that December three years ago, Columbus native and author Bernard Master gave a talk at the Ritter Library in Vermilion about his incredible experiences birding around the world, where he has seen over 7,800 birds. I found the stories captivating and I was hooked. I wanted to go to the places where I could see birds and learn about them. It seemed fun, educational, adventurous and challenging. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing snowy owls, but there are lots of species like the common redpoll yet to be personally discovered. Contact Rob Swindell at robswindell@roadrunner.com.