Pine Grosbeaks attract eco-tourists

By Shelley Harms

Male Pine Grosbeak reaching for crabapples along Shepard Road

A rare incursion of northern birds from Canada has drawn birders from as far away as Vermont to Norfolk. Pine Grosbeaks are the main attraction. Every morning during the holiday week, groups with binoculars, cameras and spotting scopes stood on Shepard Road watching the birds eat small, orange crabapples.

Sunday, December 30 saw birders from four states along with several Norfolkians, watching about 30 Pine Grosbeaks along the lane to Meadowbrook and in front of the fire house. “This is the most exciting Christmas present I could imagine,” said Sarah Zagorski of Wethersfield. “I was here yesterday too. The people of Norfolk have been very friendly, many have stopped to talk to us, and no one has complained.”

Several couples from as nearby as Avon, Coventry and Berlin Connecticut said the birds had brought them to Norfolk for the first time. To a person, the birders said the long drive to Norfolk had been well worth it.

Many birders were alerted through email alerts. In the Connecticut Daily Bird Report , sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological Association Andy Thiede posted the following report:

12/30 – Norfolk, Shepard Road – PINE GROSBEAKS spotted from 9:15 through 10:30 a.m., a flock of about 30, with 7 or 8 males. Beautiful and close looks. If you have not come out yet to see these birds, don’t think twice, this is an awesome opportunity. Plenty of crabapples are still left for them to feast upon.

Other internet posters note excitement at seeing a “life bird,” the first sighting of a species that can then be put on a birdwatcher’s “life list.” The Brownstone Birding forum featured this entry on December 27, by Larry from Portland, Connecticut:

I took a ride out to the northwest corner of Connecticut this morning hoping to find a Pine Grosbeak. They are the largest of the winter finches, and not particularly wary around people. Although they are normally found in boreal forests, they are irruptive this year and some have recently found their way into parts of Connecticut. I arrived in Norfolk at 9 a.m. after a 1-1/2 hour drive… Just after 9:30 a.m., I started to hear some suspicious sounding finch-like calls. I looked in the bare trees and saw some plump reddish birds, along with some grayish ones, perched near the top. “That has to be them!” I thought to myself. Actually, I might have even said that out loud. I watched in amazement as a whole flock of Pine Grosbeaks were in the midst of gorging themselves with crabapples. This was my first time ever seeing these beautiful birds.”

The crabapple trees attracting the birds were planted by Mary Ann McGourty in the late 1980’s . “Hank Tremblay was First Selectman at the time,” recalls McGourty, “and he encouraged me to apply for a grant from CL&P. They were offering a grant to buy trees suitable for planting under power lines. We got the grant, and I picked out three varieties of crabapples. They had to be planted on town property, so I put them here along this lane and in front of the fire house. The birds clearly prefer one type of crabapple and ignore the others. The crabapple attracting the grosbeaks is a disease-resistant hybrid that bears bountiful small orange fruits.”

Several of the birdwatchers noted that it has been at least 15 years since a similar irruption of Pine Grosbeaks into Connecticut. Other unusual birds that have been spotted in Norfolk this year include Evening Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing, Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin and Snow Bunting.

Norfolk appears to be enjoying the attention. During a meeting at the fire house on December 30, several bemused volunteer firemen came out to talk with “the bird people.” Norfolk businesses have seen increased activity from the birders. One couple in Norfolk on December 30 had a flat tire, and was directed to George’s garage. Others indicated they would be going to the Pub or Mizza’s for lunch. Mary Bazzano commented that lots of out-of-towners are buying cups of coffee at the Norfolk Corner and talking about birds.