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.
Robin
According to the bird experts, mourning doves are among the most abundant birds in the U.S. I can certainly vouch for that fact judging from the visitors at my backyard feeding station.
In fact, as part of my count for Project FeederWatch this past weekend, I counted 28 mourning doves at one time! So even though the average number of mourning doves in the FeederWatch program here in Maryland is five, they are, apparently, particularly abundant in my little part of the world.
Mourning Doves
It’s curious how their behaviors have changed since they have become accustomed to all the bird feeders. When I first started feeding and watching the birds, the mourning doves would arrive–usually in pairs–and feast on the ground below the feeders where seed would be spilled or dropped by the other birds. Over time, one of the birds became more bold and learned to land on the feeders-even the smaller feeders–to feast directly from the pickings. Then two birds, then three. After a while, all the mourning doves were eating directly from the feeders. Although they still feed from the ground when they are in large numbers, the feeders are often filled with mourning doves.
Did you know the whistling sound they make when they fly is actually from their wings?
Did you know that mourning doves are monogamous and form strong bonds as pairs? (More than you can say for many humans, eh?)
Did you know that the male mourning dove will escort his mate to potential nest sites for her to choose a location. (Real estate is, apparently, her decision.)
Did you know that more than 45 million mourning doves are killed by hunters each year, including in Wisconsin, where the mourning dove is also the official symbol of peace? (Wisconsin seems a bit confused.)
Robin
I have finally found the perfect wildlife conservation project—and all I have to do is sit in my favorite chaise and count birds.
It’s for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch.
Okay, I also have to enter some data into the Project FeederWatch database, but that’s a cinch. Oh. And I have to be able to identify the birds that visit the back yard. Sometimes easy. Sometimes difficult.
Downy woodpecker
Still, it’s the perfect activity for my new slow and simple lifestyle.
If you’re interested, it’s really quite, uh, simple.
First, you choose where you’re going to count your birds. I have big picture windows that are pretty much the wall of the back of my house, so I just sit in my favorite chair. You also need to have bird feeders (hence the name FeederWatch), but you need to outline an area around the feeders that will be a part of your count territory.
Second, you choose your count days. Select two consecutive days to count for at least some portion of the day. I count for about an hour and a half at a time. After that the dogs have to go outside potty or I need a glass of tea or something (like I need to go potty because of all the tea I drank).
Bluejay – The contraption behind him is my new birdcam. Stay tuned to see if I get it working.
Record the maximum number of birds of each species that you see at ONE TIME. You don’t have to keep track of who is coming and going. You just give maximum numbers for who’s there at one time. For example, my species maximum for this morning’s 1.5 hour count was:
American tree sparrow – 2
Brown-headed cowbirds – 8
Cardinals – 2
Chickadee – 1
Dark-eyed juncos – 9
Downy woodpeckers – 1
Goldfinches – 3
Mourning doves – 15
Purple finches – 10
Red-bellied woodpeckers – 1
Red-breasted nuthatches – 3
Red-winged blackbird – 1
Tufted titmouse – 1
White-breasted nuthatch – 1
Then, you report your counts. You can do that online or by sending in paper reports.
My birdwatching station
Aside from the slow and simple nature of the activity, I have found that participating in Project FeederWatch means that I pay even more attention to my backyard visitors. For example, I noticed that not all the nuthatches that visit are red-breasted nuthatches. I discovered that some are white-breasted nuthatches. And because I was watching closely I noticed the return of the brown-headed cowbirds this morning.
I also noticed that those deer are nibbling away at the new pussywillow that I planted last spring. Stoopid deer. At least I have the deer killer.
I find counting birds for Project FeederWatch quite a fine way to spend part of a morning. I’m helping the birds. I’m learning to observe nature and identify birds. I get to swear my pajamas and drink coffee or tea while I’m doing it. And I don’t even have to work up a sweat. (That comes later—at the gym. Can’t get out of that.)
By the way, here’s my birdwatching station for Project FeederWatch.
Sweet!
Robin
