Date: 1/24/26 6:46 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Winter Storm Fern and bird populations in the Carolinas
Folks,
As we all know, what may be the most devastating ice storm (Fern) in our lifetimes will start hitting the Carolinas late this afternoon and continuing into late Sunday, with heavy coatings of ice on the roads, and much worse -- on the powerlines and trees. So, it will be very difficult to drive on Sunday and Monday looking for birds, especially in the mountains, Piedmont, and parts of the upper Coastal Plain due to the roads and what also may lie in them -- trees, limbs, power poles, and powerlines. (When Hurricane Fran hit Raleigh in 1996, I was unable to drive 2-3 blocks in ANY direction from my house on the first day after the storm, owing to blockage of the roads by these items.)
The biggest take away *today *-- don't wait to try to see those rarities you were hoping to look for NEXT week. They might well have perished (or moved south) by then. That includes Common Ground Dove, MacGillivray's Warbler, and many feeder birds like Townsend's Warbler and hummingbirds -- especially where these rarities are not along or near the coast.
And, the second is the expected large loss of life of many songbirds owing to the extreme cold and failure to get to the food they need that may be coated in ice. When I was a grad student at Clemson back in the 1970s-80s, I did daily morning surveys in winter along two routes, and before harsh weather I averaged about 20 each of Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned kinglets. After a long and deep cold spell, I average only 2 of each! That was a decrease of 90% in the kinglet numbers. In the past around central NC, after these very harsh snowy, icy, and very cold periods, the loss of many to most kinglets and many other species such as Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-rumped and Pine warblers (and any other warblers) becomes evident.
So, if you do have feeders, try to keep them well-stocked, heated, etc. -- if you can. I am sure quite a few of you will see new species in your yards that you have never seen before, like Fox Sparrows.
The plus of this -- there will be even colder weather and much more snow in states to our north from Fern, and thus after a bit we SHOULD see more northern waterfowl species on our lakes -- though our lakes will stay frozen for a week, perhaps. And, the ocean should see more alcids, gulls, and other potentially good Northern coastal/seabird species. And, MAYBE -- we will see a few Pine Siskins, Evening Grosbeaks, and rarer winter finches. Fingers crossed on that!
Stay safe and warm (most of us will likely be losing power for a while), and if you need to find that rare songbird that you desire, you'd better try today before the freezing precipitation starts.
