Date: 6/22/26 2:57 pm From: Nick Bolgiano <nickbolgiano...> Subject: Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers moving south
I have mainly been working on the third breeding bird atlas in Sproul State Forest between Snow Shoe and Renovo, where I also have done two Breeding Bird Surveys since 2002. A very interesting change in bird distributions there is how Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have moved about 30 miles south into northern Centre Co and western Clinton Co since the second breeding bird atlas in 2004-2009.
I first started finding sapsuckers on one of my BBS routes about 15 years ago, but I would mainly find 1-2 . This number has increased rapidly the last few years and this year, I counted 10 on the main route where I typically find them. Where I find them is primarily in the northern part of the state forest south of Renovo - along Grugan Hollow Rd, Pete's Run Rd, and Dry Run Rd.
You can see the current atlas distribution of sapsuckers at this website:
In the second atlas, sapsuckers were previously present in parts of Clearfield Co, where they are now, but the southern movement has occurred in Lycoming, Clinton, and Centre Counties.
It is uncommon for northern birds to move south, but this is what is happening with sapsuckers. If they continue to move at the current pace, they could be in the Black Moshannon area within a few decades. The forest there is similar to the forest in Sproul SF.
