| |
The
House Finch, a species native to Western North America, was accidentally
released on Long Island, New York in the early 1940's. By the mid-1960's
the population of this species exploded, reaching Quebec during the early
1980's. The species appears to be still expanding its range in Quebec. Recent
bird banding studies have found that while some House Finches remain in
Quebec throughout the year, others migrate to at least as far south as Pennsylvania.
What factors are behind this avian success story? An individual bird can
lay two to four clutches of 4-5 eggs per year, resulting in a unusually
high birthrate. Furthermore, this species exploits bird seed from feeders,
and prefers suburban and urban areas with open lawns and ornamental trees,
a habitat that is not hard to find in Southern Quebec. Nor is this species
picky about nest sites: buildings, evergreen trees, vines and rose trellises,
shutters, hanging flower baskets, and abandoned nests of other species will
do! |
|
