Feb 17
2008
The Great Backyard Bird Count
This is the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count…
So, naturally, I have been counting birds.
Okay, I stopped to take some photos too.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a special four-day count over President’s Day weekend. Last year more than 81,000 checklists of birds were supplied by backyard bird watchers. The Project Feederwatch program gathers data that assists scientists understand bird populations and migration patterns.
Here at Bumblebee, we seem to have an abundance of American Goldfinches this weekend. At one time I counted more than 30 at the feeders. We also had a flock of redwinged blackbirds that I’ll get to report. I estimated their numbers at 170 using a grid count method. And the overall bird visitation has been so brisk that I’ll have to head to the Wild Bird Store yet again to pick up some of my pre-ordered food.
Of course, we have our usual visitors, including a particularly grouchy Carolina Chickadee. She was mighty upset when my cat, Miss P, and I wandered outside with the camera.
It was overall a good day to be outside. Tomorrow I’ll be making my own President’s Day celebration. Tune in sometime soon.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Oh, I love your bird photos! Now I want a post like yours that holds multi feeders. Your chickadee at the top is excellent!
Bravo.
February 17th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
One question: Do you use Photoshop to achieve the border treatment?
Hi Kate,
Yes, I do these borders in Photoshop. The easiest is just to increase the canvas size for a tidy black or color border.
Robin at Bumblebee
February 17th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Very clever photo edging–way beyond my efforts. And I too want a post like that–there’s a metal worker here in NS that would likely make me one that won’t cost a king’s ransom.
I’m fascinated at how much brighter the colours are on your goldfinches; ours are still drab, not yet willing to change to their ‘courting colours.”
Thanks Jodi!
I bought a screw-in pole and this topper with four hanging arms at the Wild Bird Store. It’s a franchise, so perhaps there’s one near you?
Robin at Bumblebee
February 17th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Such great photos of your birds! I always feel guilty that I don’t participate in the Backyard Bird Count “officially”. We have American Goldfinches as well. I love your chickadee. Aren’t they cheeky?
Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage
Participating in the count is so easy! And you can access the full database to see how the birds you’re seeing compare with what others see. Very interesting.
Robin at Bumblebee
February 18th, 2008 at 7:17 am
What great photos. The chickadees put up a fuss at the slightest provocation here also. You have so many goldfinches, our are turning more yellow also. Yea!
Frances at Faire Garden
February 18th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Ditto on the amazing photos. Such clear close-ups. I can’t seem to sneak up on mine. Even when I sit on the rocks still as a mouse, they are smarter than I am!
February 19th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Your picture of chickadee is great – I like it a lot. I wonder how you made it. Do you have proper lense for maximum zooming or they let you come close?
Your new layout is very funny :) I like it a lot.
February 19th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Hi Frances, Ewa and Diana –
Thanks for the compliments on the photos. I’ve been trying to slow down a bit instead of just snapping away. I use a long telephoto lens, so I really don’t have to be all that close to get good shots of the birds. Still, it can be difficult to be in the yard and take photos, as they do tend to scatter. Plus, the little dogs always want to go outside with me or make a racket in the house if I go out by myself. That’s not all that conducive to bird watching and photographing.
Robin at Bumblebee
February 19th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Did you get to count some Evening Grosbeaks too?
I was able to count 6 goldfinches–I think the winds were making it difficult for them to land.
I did see a huge flock (27) of European Starlings (yucky, but I had to add them to my count also :-(
No evening grosbeaks this time around. I did estimate 170 red-winged blackbirds though. They just kept falling out of the trees until the ground was covered! I also saw three bluejays at one time–the first time I’ve ever seen more than one at a time.
Robin at Bumblebee
February 19th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Oh, I forgot to join in the bird count! Good for you though. Great shots of the birds.
Brenda Kula
Hi Brenda,
You can still participate in the regular birdcount and submit reports every few days, if you want.
Robin at Bumblebee