Keeping Common Birds Common

During heavy snowfall, Redpolls gorge on the seeds of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis).

Redpolls are irruptive migrants, whose unpredictable winter movements into our area are driven by food scarcity (poor crops of birch and conifer seeds) in their northern range. These individuals were part of a large flock whose arrival coincided with several fields on Cornell’s Mount Pleasant Farm being left fallow to restore soil health. The seed-rich “weeds” that flourished in the fallow fields were a big draw for hungry Redpolls, Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and others.