Great Backyard Bird Count Goes Global

Exciting News! For the first time ever, bird lovers around the world can count birds for the Great Backyard Bird Count - all they need is access to the Internet. The count takes place February 15 - 18, 2013 and all you have to do is watch birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more of the count days, estimate the number of birds of each species that you can identify, and enter your tallies online. For more information go to www.birdcount.org. GBBC is hosted by the Cornell Lab, Audubon, and Bird Studies Canada.

An Afternoon at the American River

Last Sunday we decided to take our cameras and head over to the American River for a few hours of bird watching. The American River is home to many different species of migratory birds. We were thrilled to see the spot we arrived at had several species for us to observe.

I thought these were Snow Geese when I saw them, but I was thrown off by their color because I know Snow Geese are white. When I got home I looked them up in one of my bird books and discovered they are indeed Snow Geese, just a blue morph of the species. At one time scientists thought they were a different species altogether and called them Blue Geese.

We also saw beautiful Canada Geese and tons of seagulls.

The Snow Geese make this loud 'honking' call when they get all excited. These three were all ready and eager to be fed by some children.

So majestic and beautiful. Both species mate for life. It is awesome to think how far they come to winter here - the Snow Geese from the Arctic tundra and the Canada Geese from Canada, of course.

Look at the orange-pink bill, legs and feet of the Snow Goose. And the rim of the eyes. Mother Nature sure knows how to color coordinate!

The mallard ducks were sure fun to watch. Bottoms Up!

Isn't he just gorgeous? And he knows it too.

It was getting late in the afternoon and they all made their way across the river to settle down for the night amongst the rocks. I read online at one of my reputable bird resources that Snow Geese and Canada Geese don't like to travel or feed together. Someone forgot to tell these guys that...

Project FeederWatch

Help birds and science by participating in Project FeederWatch. Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit backyard feeders. All you have to do is put a feeder (or two, or three, or more) in your yard, and beginning November 13th through April, periodically count the number of species and send the data to Project FeederWatch. Learn more by visiting their site. This is such a simple, yet rewarding project - the birds benefit, science benefits, but most of all - you benefit. There's still time to sign up!

Magpies

These birds are yellow-billed magpies and they are found only in California. Bird watchers from around the world come to California just to see them. I saw this one feeding contentedly near a squirrel.

What's interesting about magpies is that they stay together as families in small colonies. A mated pair spread their wings and bow to each other and the male feeds the female. (Love that!) They are such beautiful birds and I always enjoy watching them.

Bird Cookies

How cute are these sugar cookies made by Eleni's in New York? They are just too pretty to eat!

Postcards from Florida II

More backyard birds

Red-bellied woodpecker

More cardinals

Egret

Some of the palm trees took a beating in the Florida freezes this year.

Bird Counting Time

It's almost time for the Great Backyard Bird Count - the annual bird count that takes place over Presidents' Day weekend. It's free, fun, easy (it only takes a few minutes a day over four days), and a wonderful way to spend the upcoming holiday weekend. Plus, it makes you feel good to know that you are doing something that will help scientists preserve bird species.

Christmas Bird Count

The National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count begins December 14th and ends January 5th. Your local count will occur on one day between those dates. The Christmas Bird Count helps identify birds in most need of conservation action and reveals success stories. The count helped document the comeback of the previously endangered Bald Eagle and Brown Pelican. Follow this link to find out more information on how you can participate.

Autumn Birds

The wild duck startles like a sudden thought,

And heron slow as if it might be caught.

The flopping crows on weary wings go by

And grey beard jackdaws noising as they fly.

The crowds of starnels whizz and hurry by,

And darken like a clod the evening sky.

The larks like thunder rise and suthy round,

Then drop and nestle in the stubble ground.

The wild swan hurries hight and noises loud

With white neck peering to the evening clowd.

The weary rooks to distant woods are gone.

With lengths of tail the magpie winnows on

To neighbouring tree, and leaves the distant crow

While small birds nestle in the edge below.

Poem by John Clare

Sandhill Crane Festival

November 6-8, 2009 in Lodi, California

I hope to attend the festival this year to hear the gargling and see the wondrous dance of the sandhill cranes.

Get Ready. Set. Count!

I'm ready. Are you?

The Great Backyard Bird Count

Project Feeder Watch

The Project FeederWatch 2008-09 season began on Saturday, November 8th, but you can sign up any time. FeederWatchers keep track of their birds through the winter and report their tallies each week. It has been a bevy of activity at my feeders these last couple of weeks as migratory birds are stopping by for a quick visit and a bite to eat before they continue on their journey further south. 

Studies show that time spent watching nature can reduce stress. Don't you need a little stress reducer in your life? This is a great activity to do with young children, or even older children. You can learn more by visiting the PFW Web site. 

And don't forget to mark your calendars for the Great Backyard Bird Court that takes place February 13-16, 2009. Participants in the 2008 count submitted over 85,000 checklists and identified 635 species!

My Little Friend

Counting Birds

This weekend I am participating in The Great Backyard Bird Count where you count the different species of birds and the total number of each species that you see each day. The purpose of the count is to create a real-time picture of where birds are acoss the U.S. I saw a representative from Cornell University on The Martha Show a few months ago, and being the bird lover that I am, went on to their Web site to learn more about the event.

It takes as little as 15 minutes a day from Feb. 15-18 and it is easy to do. After observing the birds whether in your backyard, office, along the roadway, wherever you are during the day, you log onto their Web site and submit your daily count. It's actually fun.

Yesterday I submitted the count of hummingbirds that I saw at work, and today I submitted the two Turkey Vultures and the over 50 Northern Pintails we saw on our drive through Amador County. We were home early enough for me to observe the birds that were at the feeders in the backyard and submit those in a separate count. It's fun, it's educational, and it's a Good Thing!