Chuck et al,
In reading about the food habits of Pine Grosbeak, it seems the key to the
area you describe may be the affect the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic has
had on their winter diet, which in one study was comprised of 24% conifer
buds. This same study found about 5% of their diet to be conifer seeds.
Adding these two together, almost one-third of their winter diet in this
study was live pine parts. Pines are mentioned as among the trees they
utilize. Thus, since lodgepole pine stands are usually not diverse and you
say you've seen Pine Grosbeaks in this area on a regular basis in the past,
it wouldn't surprise me if the area's pine-accustomed ("dependant" is too
strong a word) grosbeaks have moved elsewhere. The good news is that Pine
Grosbeaks have a broad diet and that they can probably find something
somewhere to feed themselves year-round. They are pretty nomadic in their
pursuit of resources. I will always remember the winter (1984) they came to
Fort Collins in big numbers to feed on green ash seeds, certainly not their
normal fare. Hopefully, somebody somewhere (probably an area dominated by
live spruce and true firs) is remarking that they've never had Pine
Grosbeaks in their area and now they do.
Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins
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