Evening Grosbeak in the Morning Sun

Ronald Zigler

I traveled an hour north to Royalston, Massachusetts to capture this image. I had been following reports of large flocks of these birds at the home of local residents who welcomed birders to see the Evening Grosbeaks. I was pleased to be able to see and photograph these birds since I had not seen one since 1987. This has been designated an “irruptive” year for these birds that, while in decline, are more common in the northern, boreal forests. This year, they have been venturing further south. I had been hoping to see these at my own feeders this winter, but none have shown up yet. A resident in Royalston told me he goes through 100 pounds of seed a week feeding these and other birds. I told him that he has been feeding his birds so well, they may not bother to show up in my neighborhood in the southern part of the state.