An evening grosbeak feeds on the seeds of a box elder tree in Laura Erickson's yard. (Photo by Laura Erickson)
Duluth birder Laura Erickson was surprised in early August when a flock of evening grosbeaks showed up at her feeders and her box elder tree to feed. Evening grosbeaks have been scarce for several years in Duluth and throughout the eastern United States, said Erickson, host of the popular “For the Birds” radio program.
“I stopped having big flocks of them in the early 1990s,” she said. “By the mid-1990s, they were sporadic.”
Their population seemed to have declined, she said. But a flock of 16 has been visiting Erickson’s yard since Aug. 4. Lots of adults with their green beaks were feeding babies,” she said.
The beaks of evening grosbeaks turn green when courting begins at the end of winter and remain green during the feeding of their young, she said. Evening grosbeaks nest in northern forests and do especially well during outbreaks of spruce budworm because they feed their young the budworms, Erickson said.
Erickson hasn’t heard reports of other evening grosbeaks in the Duluth area, but she assumes other flocks must be around. They especially like feeding on the seeds of a box elder tree in her yard. She enjoys listening to the call of the grosbeaks.
“It’s very easy to hear, but it’s quiet, not piercing,” she said. “It’s a comfortable background music.”
For more evening grosbeak images and to read Erickson’s birding blog, check her website here. Thanks to Laura for sharing these photos of evening grosbeaks.
A male evening grosbeak feeds at one of Laura Erickson's feeders. (Photo by Laura Erickson)
