So true your comments Greg on annual die offs of birds through natural occurrences such as the one I have mentioned for the Redpolls, and your unbelievable examples of the Longspurs. Life for any wild creature is always at risk, and for any species to avoid occasional catastrophic reductions in numbers is most unusual. However, the natural balance of nature often comes through to save the species. However; As the human world wide population grows in numbers, so to grows the risks of survival to our wildlife. One case in point is mentioned here at this site of the plight to the Red Knot, with their possible total eradication through just one States vote on a human issue. Another case in point, The Eastern Bluebird. Back in the early 1900's, when the E. Bluebird was at their possible peak in numbers, the introduction of the alien House Sparrow and European Starling took their toll through competition of nesting sites. From their then reduction in numbers, comes two years in a row of long duration winter ice storms to our south in the 40's, decimating remaining numbers to their lowest point ever. It took mans intervention of placing nesting boxes for them to safely breed in, to produce a slow, but long duration population comeback. This being one of the very few cases where man has helped a species it initially hindered, though the question still might be, for how long........ Paul Carrier