Well, it’s that time of year again…. time for me to become a citizen scientist and count birds for a minimum of 15 minutes a day during this 4-day weekend, February 13 – 16. Then report my findings at birdcount.org. It’s easy, it’s free, and it helps avian researchers have a real-time picture of how birds are doing.
There are two days are left in the count… today and tomorrow. Just Do It!
Ice-encrusted mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) in Portsmouth NH
Near the feeder, it’s an easy task but in other locations, it can take a bit of concentration. Can you spot the lone chickadee among American goldfinches and a junco in the crab apple tree? Click to enlarge.
What a great project, and I applaud your contribution. 🙂
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I do love birds. We’ve had so much snow that the squirrels can reach the hanging feeders on their tiptoes. I’m filling muffin tins, reaching out and balancing them on ‘mountains’ of snow. We really can’t go out the back door. The drifts are shoulder high out there.
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Oh, that poor dove. All those goldfinches too. You are really getting the snowy weather.
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We have had up to 2 dozen finches, the same number of pine siskins and juncos. Locals tell me this snow isn’t the norm and I do want to believe them… but just in case, I’m dreaming of my old zone 7b right about now.
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Oh, that mourning dove looks so cold and miserable! We’re not seeing mourning doves this year, I’m sure because I no longer put out sunflower or safflower.
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We have to give them a little fuel to make it through this dreadful winter. We won’t see the ground for many weeks!
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Poor you and the cold birds! It is not easy to count them outside when there is 4 feet (and more in the drifts) of snow on the ground. There is nowhere for them to naturally find food these days. Glad to hear so many are helping them out. You need to do a follow-up blog on just how your count worked out!
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We can’t get out to the feeders in the yard these days. When I open the garage door to feed the birds in the morning, it’s a rush to the muffin tins. They are hungry!
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