PERMANENT RESIDENT BIRDS ARE NOT SO PERMANENT

The Carolina Wren is a frequent year-round resident of particularly southern Connecticut

A number of bird species are thought of as being permanent residents in southern New England.  However, although the species are present year-round, the same individuals are not necessarily present.  In fact, populations of resident species often change considerably between seasons.  In a number of instances, short distance migrations occur among some individuals.  In eastern Connecticut, ongoing research conducted by Bird Conservation Research, Inc. has demonstrated that species like the Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jay and Northern Cardinal show population declines from summer to winter as birds appear to leave the region.  In contrast, the Black-capped Chickadee shows population increases that appear to be driven by movement of chickadees into the region from further north.  A number of wintering species also concentrate their numbers near the coast, where winter temperatures average milder than in northern areas.  These findings are detailed in the paper, Seasonal Shifts in Population Distributions and Habitat Use by Permanent Resident Forest Birds in Eastern Connecticut.