I write/compile this report in some frustration: the unseasonably warm “Winter” in far southern Ontario has not produced any snow and, so, no Snow Buntings. When you think back, 2012, just a few years ago was the “winter that wasn’t” down here. I fear that this may be the way of the future and I’ll have to look for other species to band….maybe warblers if things keep going the way they are.

[A few years ago, Oliver Love (U. of Windsor) and I had a brainstorm: C.R.A.P., The Centre for Research on Arctic Passerines. Were we just goofing around or were we visionaries? The way things are going I think it has to be visionaries.]

But all of Canada is not far southern Ontario (as I’ve always been quick to point out) and snowy, cold weather has descended on many parts of the country. So some people are observing and banding Snow Buntings. Below is a compilation of reports sent to me from across a broad spectrum. Unfortunately there isn’t anything from the far eastern north shore of the St. Lawrence, which is a SNBU highway or from Newfoundland which may be a wintering area for some birds.

Yukon, NWT, Nunavut:
[January 6th]
Hello from the Yukon, No banding until usually March but had an interesting sighting of a group of 40 snow buntings at treeline for a Xmas bird count. Location near Kluane Lake north of Kluane Nat Park.
[Next day: Hello Rick, live in a small community of Haines Junction, about 750 people, with Kluane Nat Park nearby. Have been a longtime volunteer at the bird migration stations in the Yukon and have a sub permit to band. Started 2 years ago but the SNBU only come quickly as they head north. My dates are March 18-Aprl 1 for banding. Had 32 and 136 banded the last 2 years. It was a steep learning curve and lots of hrs! Hope to get kids at the school involved this year.Love your blog. Happy New Year.]
[Later: Hey Rick, for my 136 birds last year 68%male and 32%female. 43%ASY and 57%SY. Seeing the info on the blog about Joanne got me interested in getting kids involved. Thanks Julie]
Julie Bauer
Haines Junction, Yukon

Hi Rick,
Summary of SNBU sightings from across the lower NWT.

Yellowknife – Me [Rhiannon Pancratz]
With respect to migration there were sightings of SNBU up to mid-October (in eBird). Last report I have is for October 16th. One person reported “hundreds” on Prosperous Lake outside of town (Oct 15).

Fort Simpson –Doug Tate (Parks Canada)
“Any Snow Bunting sightings I’ve had this year should be in eBird. They usually pass through in October, and this year was nothing unusual from what I saw in town, but for SNBU, travelling the highways in migration is probably a better way to judge migration. I did not drive the highways much, so did not get a great sense of whether the migration was remarkable in any way. There was a single bird here in late November for a few days, but that’s all. The previous December (2014) we had four on the Christmas Count, and they hung around for a week or so afterwards. The species has shown up on count week twice before I think, but they are not an expected winter species. On 02 January 2016, I drove from Ft Simpson to Nahanni Butte, and did not see a single bunting. There was one casual report of “snowbirds” from late December near Ft Simpson, but I think people sometimes mistake redpolls on the highway for Snow Buntings, so I’m not confident of that one. So that’s a long-winded way to say, no, we don’t have any over-wintering SNBU here.”

Fort Smith –Sharon Irwin (Parks Canada)
“No SNBU here in December this year. We have reports of SNBU on the Christmas Bird Count in 1999 – 2, 2005 – 3, 2012 -67. They are common all through October here and sometimes into November.”

Hay River – Gary Vizniowski
“We had the usual flocks going through last fall. Around Hay River the flocks were smaller but I did get reports of large ones near Fort Providence. I believe by November they had all passed through here. The only winter record I have is from February 2012, so they were probably coming back early.
I did a CBC summary a couple of years ago and we have never counted them on the CBC”

Rhiannon Pankratz
Landbird Biologist | Biologiste des oiseaux terrestres
Canadian Wildlife Service | Service canadien de la faune
Yellowknife, NT

Prairie Provinces:

[January 4th]
Good Morning Rick!
The same goes for us here in NW Alberta. Mild temps and almost no snow cover. SNBU’s were plentiful in the fall passing through but they did not stick around. I haven’t seen a SNBU since November. The only birds I’m having luck banding at the moment are Bohemian Waxwings.
Mike Blom
Peace River, Alberta
[You have to feel bad for a guy who has only Bohemian Waxwings to band…….!?]

[January 5th]
We have quite an influx of Pine Grosbeaks and redpolls here in the Prince Albert area (central Saskatchewan), but Snow Buntings seem to be in very short supply this winter.
Harold Fisher
Nisbet Banding Station,
Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
53-17-11N, 105-39-15W

[January 5]
Hi Rick,
And a Happy New Year to you!
Unfortunately I have very little to report. I’ve not had a single SNBU at my place so far this season. We have plenty of snow, but perhaps the extremely warm temps are keeping them away. I’ve been here for nineteen years and this is the first time I’ve gone this far into the winter without a Snow Bunting. Worse, I haven’t had a single “in the vicinity” sighting since seeing about 25 along the lake shore back in early November.
I’ve seen a few reports of a flock of 100, and several of one to seven in southern Manitoba during December-January, and one of a flock of 330 about 80km northwest of me during the Hodgson CBC. The same CBC (Dec.22) reported a total of 512 and I’ve asked for details but haven’t heard back. Except for this one flock, all other sightings seem concentrated just west and northwest of Winnipeg.
I haven’t been able to check other CBCs, so there might (I hope) be more around than I know of. I’ll ask around and get back to you in the next day or two if there are any changes. Hopefully that won’t be too late for your report.

[January 7th: The easiest way to located me on a map is to place an “x” about 10km NNW of Gimli, two-and-a-half miles west of the Lake.
I had a few more reports of small flocks of Snow Buntings (20-80), almost all to the west of me, from those reported originally to the north west, to a few sightings just north of the border to the southwest.
Most intriguing was a new report of a “huge” flock seen last Sunday, “ten minutes northwest of Gimli.” That should be me! But I haven’t had so much as a flyover. I’ve asked for more details and hope to do a late afternoon drive-around today but am not hopeful. A different report of a large flock of SNBU turned, whenphotos were sent, out to be Redpolls.
I don’t know of anyone banding this winter, but I’ve asked around and will send you any info if that changes]
Bill Macjieko
Gimli, Manitoba

Ontario:

[January 3rd]
Good morning and Happy 2016!
The first Snow Buntings showed up on my property in Lanark on December 29th, with the first snow!
Now, I have about 50 to 60 birds feeding on the millet I spread on the ground.
I will keep you posted if the numbers increase.
Have a great winter!
Lise Balthazar
Sheridan Rapids
Lanark, Ontario

[January 4th]
Hi Rick,
Despite being in S. Ont., and there being only a dusting of snow here in King City, the cold snap inspired Glenn to begin baiting today (at noon). Lo and behold, when he checked at 5pm, there were 50 SNBU cleaning up the very last of it. Based on the amount of corn/nyger mix he left, and the number of tracks, he thinks there were a larger number earlier this afternoon. These are the first we’ve seen this season.
No new pics – sorry!
Best,
Theresa McKenzie
King City, Ontario

[January 5th]
Hi Rick
I will try to cheer you up , today i caught 20 SNBU first of the season and got the first foreign recap as well #2711-22155 it looks like one banded this year, I am thinking David Lamble.
So cheer up they are coming.
Regards
Glenn
King City, ON
[Somehow this is not cheering me up…..]

[January 4th]
Hello Rick:
I did not get started on my Snow Buntings earlier. But now I am on the daily grind for the past couple of days…….. 34 yesterday and 89 today….. plus some Horned Larks and 1 Lapland Longspur. Things are slower than normal because of the lack of snow……… but the birds are coming in………. but the flocks are small, even by my standards…… most flocks are 30 to 40 birds…………..
David Lamble
Fergus, Ontario
[Again, you have to feel bad for a guy that is getting “small” flocks but manages to band 143 in 2 days…]

[January 4th]
Hello Rick:
A friend has asked me to forward you my SNBU sightings.
Nov 22.16 12:30 pm fifty feeding on weeds in an open field area in Abby Gardens off Hwy 118 just west of West Guilford, Haliburton County.
Jan 2.16 One flyover calling 8:15 am. Dalyrmple Community Center , Dalyrmple Rd, Kawartha Lakes county.
Brian Pfrimmer
Central Ontario

[January 6th]
Hello Rick
So sorry to hear about your mild weather! Surely some of the banding sites have some Buntings at last. Here in Northern Ontario (North Bay area) the snow has arrived (but not until just after Christmas) – and with the snow came the Buntings. I have up to 35 coming for feed and am hoping too see the number increase. The SNBU enjoy hanging out on the barn roof and occasionally a brave one even comes to the feeder at my kitchen window. One has to wonder where they have travelled from. Happy New Year to everyone – hope the Buntings arrive in great flocks,
Lori Anderson
North Bay area, ON

[January 4th]
Hi Rick,
Our first snow fall happened on Dec 27th. [Bruce] Murphy and I put some corn out at the Kerns’ Public School site and at our home site on Dawson point. Within a few days a small flock of SNBU has gathered in both spots. My students got the traps out of the school shed today and we anticipate that we will be banding by next week! Fingers Crossed!!
Joanne Goddard
New Liskeard, ON

[January 9th]
[Bruce] Murph[y] and I thought we would go set the traps at Kerns [Public School] this morning to see if the flurries in the air would encourage more feeding. In just over an hour we caught 20 male SNBU one of which was a recapture from January 2013. It was banded then as an ASY Male. I will have to go back though our records at school on Monday to see which of my students banded it 🙂 . We are expecting 25- 30 cm of snow tomorrow- I wish we could send some your way.
Jo Goddard
New Liskeard, ON

[January 4th]
Hi Rick.
The only SNBU I’ve seen were on January 1st in Dover township: a flock of about 45? searching for food during a snowstorm.
Caroline S.
Windsor area, ON

[January 4th]
Rick,
No SNBUs here yet in Essex County.
I am aiming to try to lure some into the field opposite to the Raptor Station at Holiday Beach, but am awaiting SNOW which is still absent in this part of the world.
Keep us posted on all sightings.
Bob Hall-Brooks
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory
Windsor area, ON

Quebec:
[January 6th]
Just had some news from my supervisor François Vézina. He is baiting a site in Bic (20km east of RimouskI) and had about 80 birds to the food yesterday (Picture attached). Hopefully they stick around, I will go down there this week at some point to try catching! Will keep you posted if things work.
Marie-Pier Laplante
Rimouski, QC

[January 6th]
As far as Snow Buntings are concerned, they are all over the place in Rimouski, but I am still trying to attract them at a few places for the banding.
I heard news from P-A Dumas in Richmond (in eastern townships) and he has banded his first birds (9) last week. (photo attached of the first bird he banded).
Also, just so you know… I should have the 2016 snow bunting newsletter ready by the end of the week. I don’t know when you were planning to send out the blog, but we could provide the link to the newsletter on the blog…
Cheers!
Marie-Pier LaPlante
Rimouski, QC

[January 4th]
Hi Rick:
Happy New Year! We finally got some snow here and it brought in the first small flock of SNBU yesterday, which I had the pleasure of including in my Feederwatch count.
Cheers,
Carl Bromwich
Beautiful Barnston-Ouest, Quebec….just north of the Vermont border and just south of Sherbrooke, QC

[January 6th]
It’s been a slow start in Southern Quebec. We just started banding with the first snow in late December. All in all, it’s fairly quiet still.
Mirabel
From Dec 29 to Jan 5, 34 SNBU and 1 LALO were banded in 5 mornings. The flock is still fairly small and they don’t seem very hungry despite the cold temperatures.
Mirabel Season total: 34 SNBU, 1 LALO

St-Roch
Just two morning of banding (Jan 2 & 5) produced 45 SNBU, 4 LALO and 3 HOLA. The flock is about 80-100 birds but Merlin and Snowy Owl hanging around the traps are not making life easy for us.
Some interesting recaps at St-Roch included
-1 SNBU banded in Mirabel on Jan 4 2016 was recaught only a day later in St-Roch (30km going back east)
-1 SNBU banded in Mirabel in January 2015.
St-Roch Season total: 45 SNBU, 4 LALO and 3 HOLA.

Coteau-du-lac
Coteau has been our most productive site so far, from Jan 1 to 5, in just 3 mornings, 118 SNBU and 35 HOLA were banded. The peak was on Jan 2 with 79 SNBU banded, a new single-day record for that site.
Coteau-du-lac Season total: 118 SNBU and 35 HOLA.

Southern Quebec Teams’ total is now 197 SNBU banded, about 900 birds behind last year’s pace.
[Still…..197 ahead of Nancy Furber and I…….]
Simon Duval
The Migration Research Foundation

Maritime Provinces:
[January 4th]
Hi Rick
Buntings “around” here in south-eastern NB …but none in my yard looking for food 😉 …maybe the memory of the trapping last winter is to blame? ( I hope not)
Alain Clavette
Memramcook, New Brunswick

Hi Rick,
We do have snow!!! It has been on the ground for a month or so. We saw small flocks of up to 10 SNBU on the edges of country roads on our Christmas Bird Count, and we could record for the count some that were within our route. I know there are some (perhaps 30 or so) at the farm where I usually catch them. The farmer chucks a whole lot of seed out in front of his house, and the SNBU are in competition with about 15 Blue Jays and many starlings and pigeons. The SNBU are difficult to catch because other birds are getting in the traps, and the seed is spread so widely outside the traps. So I am rethinking my strategy and in the meantime have some seeds scattered in patches of hay on the snow, here at my home to attract birds here. This site is preferable because I can control the spread of the seed, and can wait in the house on really cold days.
The winter has been late, and we are just now being warned of really cold temperatures, so be patient. They will come eventually.
All the best,
Dorothy Diamond
Stanley, New Brunswick

[January 4th, Hi Rick]
My flock appeared on McKay Siding Road near Stewiacke Nova Scotia on January 1 (my husband seen a large flock in Debert, NS, several weeks beforehand) and was feeding on the marsh along the Stewiacke River today. About 75 I would say.
Barb McLaughlin
Stewiacke, Nova Scotia

U.S.A.
SNBU have arrived at two locations in Ozaukee County, WI. Let’s hope they stay. We plan to begin baiting on Jan. 17, when I’m back from vacation.
Vicki Piaskowski
Hartland, WI