| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| minismith |
Posted - Feb 11 2012 : 08:30:45 AM
Sisters, next weekend is Cornell's Great Backyard Bird Count. What a great opportunity to participate in this bird census! I'm already cleaning off my binoculars! Just spend 15 minutes (or more)identifying and counting birds in your backyard (or meadow, or wildlife area) and enter the results on the census website. For more information go to
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http://www.birdcount.org/
What fun!
Nancy
Naturalized Farmgirl
Live a Savory Life!
http://www.liveasavorylife.com |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dorinda |
Posted - Feb 26 2012 : 2:50:04 PM
The birds have been really wild here lately. Hum I think they are confused from the weather. Anyways I have lots of beautiful cardinals this year the most I have ever seen. I was sitting in my swing one day last week and was watching them at the bird feeder. All of a sudden a female cardinal just fell off and started flapping around all over the yard. Of course my little Boston Baxter got excited and started chasing it around . So I got up and was trying to catch her and my queens bull dog Patches came around the corner of the house and saw the comotion and that was the end of the cardinal . She snatched it up and ran off with it. Then she came back with the dead bird and buried it by the bird bath. I felt so sorry for the bird. I don't know if she hit the feeder to hard when she landed and broke her wing or something. Hum just weird. Anyways her mate kept coming back looking for her all afternoon. Anyways I also have lots of Robins this year and woodpeckers. I have a big hootey Owl that comes in the barn every week and poops all over every thing. I hear him hooting out there at night. I saw a big hawk the other day up above my bird feeder just sitting there waiting. He is either going to get my fox squirrel or a bird. I hope he does not come back. Not much longer and we will start seeing the kite tail hawks. I think they are so pretty. But they to try to get my squirrels. I have a baby fox squirrel that I have been feeding because his mother got hit on the road he is so cute and very friendly. He likes to play with my Baxter......
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Feb 26 2012 : 10:37:14 AM
Jo - I know what you mean about feeling like a "cheat" with the birdfeeders. Think of it this way..."you can lead a horse to water...but you can't make it drink." Birds won't visit feeders if they aren't in the general area, so the fact that a species of bird is visiting your feeders gives the researchers who study the information gathered in the bird counts a chance to understand what the range of that particular bird species are.
Susan and Judith - bird calls are huge in identifying birds - especially if you can't see them or are birding in unfamiliar territory. Many birding groups like Audubon or Cornell sell CD's with local bird calls. Check your local wild bird feeding store or outdoor sports/nature shop to see if they have one. I have even seen them at my local library. Learning bird calls takes practice but it really is rewarding when you can ID a bird in the forest without a sighting!
Another great way to learn bird calls is to take a class or workshop from a local naturalist. Sometimes birders will set up stations at popular birding areas and share their knowledge with people as they pass by. So if you have a birding area near you try visiting on a Saturday or Sunday when it is busy. The better bird books also include descriptions of each species call to help with ID.
I've been doing GBBC as long as I can remember. It' a fun thing to look forward to every February. Last year my niece and nephew were visiting from VT so my brother and I were able to share our childhood experience with them. They had so much fun that this year they counted at home in VT. Passing the tradition on to another generation!
My family has been interested in nature and watching birds forever. I have a great great uncle named August who was a gardener. He had the gift of patience and was able to call wild birds to sit on his finger. This picture of him and the stories my Dad and Grandfather told me about him are what inspired my interest in birding from a very young age.
I have coaxed pet birds to my hand, but have never tried to get wild birds to come that close. The exceptions would be a hummingbird who used to come drink from a feeder while I was holding it and the Grey Jays in the mountains that are bold enough to land on me when they want me to share my lunch. I also nursed a few injured birds to health as as a kid but my parents never encouraged us to handle them unless it was absolutely necessary to their care.
This morning I am enjoying an extended visit from a pair of Ring-necked Pidgeons at the feeder. It's snowing outside this morning so there is a definite uptick in the number of birds stopping by for a snack.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
http://blueskyanddaisies.blogspot.com
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| forgetmenot |
Posted - Feb 25 2012 : 09:07:14 AM
I'm with you, Susan. We have so many birds from out woods and the river area. So many beautiful songs. I would love to ID them!
Farmgirl sister #3926
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but the belief that something is more important than fear." Ambrose Red Moon |
| oregonatural |
Posted - Feb 25 2012 : 06:32:48 AM
I'm getting to be pretty good at ID'ing all the birds. I know most of the hawks now too. What I need to learn about is the calls and songs of birds so I can ID them by their sounds as well as sight when I'm working in the garden or the woods.
I really enjoyed counting for the GBBC so thanks so very much for the link and the reminder Nancy! Saw two Bald Eagles on Sunday!
Cheers!
Susan
My off-grid homestead blog: http://oregonnatural.blogspot.com/
ETSY Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OregonNatural
Blessings to you from my mountain girl heart! |
| mudpony farmgirl |
Posted - Feb 23 2012 : 3:45:34 PM
It feels a little like cheating doing a bird count when I have an excessive amount of feeders to bribe them into my yard...but I guess they probably don't mind! :) |
| TeresaJ25 |
Posted - Feb 21 2012 : 11:01:02 AM
My Farmgirl Chapter went on a birdwalk this passed weekend for the bird count. It was so much fun! We saw Eastern Bluebirds, which are almost exstinct out here on Long Island. Seeing the robins was great because you just know Spring is right around the corner!
I've had Juncos at my feeder for the first time also... pretty exciting for me!
~Teresa
Farmgirl Sister #1348
Little Henhouse on the Island
Keep reading. Keep learning. Keep loving. Keep giving. Keep smiling. Keep listening. Keep forgiving. Keep praying |
| FARMALLChick |
Posted - Feb 20 2012 : 10:14:07 AM
Nothing out of the ordinary - sparrows, doves, blue jays, cardinals and some Canada geese flying over.
Lora
If it ain't red, leave it in the shed.
www.CountryFriedAcres.etsy.com
www.farmallchick.blogspot.com
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| minismith |
Posted - Feb 19 2012 : 6:37:19 PM
Nothing more exotic than a robin in my neck of the woods. But it has been fun looking!
Nancy
Naturalized Farmgirl
Live a Savory Life!
http://www.liveasavorylife.com |
| edlund33 |
Posted - Feb 19 2012 : 11:32:55 AM
Yes, I'm in too. Already sent in my reports for yesterday and today. Hoping to have time for another watch this afternoon or tomorrow morning. Anyone see any unusual birds? I saw a Townsend's warbler this morning which is an infrequent visitor to my yard. Yesterday's unique visitor was a yellow crowned kinglet.
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
http://blueskyanddaisies.blogspot.com
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Feb 19 2012 : 10:34:23 AM
Rescued two robins from my hay storage house yesterday. Saw a small flock of them today
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| City Chick |
Posted - Feb 17 2012 : 03:30:47 AM
Me too!
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My new blog - http://citychickadventures.blogspot.com/ Come visit me!
Farm Girl #790
http://pinterest.com/debbie_s/
https://twitter.com/EllieFunt
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| Rosemary |
Posted - Feb 16 2012 : 9:28:17 PM
I'm in! |
| oregonatural |
Posted - Feb 16 2012 : 10:26:29 AM
Me too. I'm a serious birder. Great info, thanks!
Susan
My off-grid homestead blog: http://oregonnatural.blogspot.com/
ETSY Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/OregonNatural
Blessings to you from my mountain girl heart! |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Feb 12 2012 : 12:28:33 PM
This is so cool. I bookmarked this site. Thanks for the information.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
