Feederwatching

Project Feederwatch is a citizen-science activity sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I access their website frequently, mainly to search the All About Birds section, a succinct guide to North American birds, including bird songs from the McCauley lab. But frequently I have spied with a twinge of guilt the link to Project Feederwatch. I could do that, I think. My small contribution to citizen-science.

Last year I made this momentous decision in late March, when the counting period was nearly over. So I opted to postpone my participation until the fall. This year I did better. The count period started on November 14 and I was ready with count book and pencil in hand. My count site is actually quite nice. I have put out feeders for years-a platform feeder and a tube feeder both filled with sunflower hearts. Eventually, I learned how to baffle them to discourage the omnipresent squirrels. A few years ago I added a heated water bath to the mix. With tall cedars on both sides of the lawn and a mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees in back, the feeder birds are well-protected.

I thought that I had a pretty good handle on the birds visiting my feeder and indeed I do. The"usuals" at this time of year include Black-capped Chickadees, Titmice, Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Northern Cardinals. Blue Jays pop in periodically and Mourning Doves drop in, as well. I've got some great woodpeckers-a few Downies and a tank of a Hairy. Throw in the occasional House Finch and there you have it. Why watch? Surprises, that's why. The first count day I spotted a Carolina Wren dangling off of my suet feeder. Cool! The next day I identified a Brown Creeper making its way up the oak tree in the back yard. A first for my yard. And during my most recent count a European Starling and a Brown-headed Cowbird showed up, unexciting birds in summer, but unusual feeder birds in wintertime.

Now I am psyched and camera ready, waiting for the next installment of Project Feederwatch. Stay tuned.