Thursday, February 23, 2012

Backyard bird count...

Make sure you count everyone down there!
Last weekend was the backyard bird count.  I have been an avid participant every year since we built our cabin (2002).  There is always some strange event that happens.  One year I had 50 Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finches.  Another year 1 Hoary Redpoll which is rare and I was questioned.  Last year a red-tailed hawk nabbed one of my birds.  That led to a bit of a question do you count the eaten bird or not?  If I remember correctly I counted him.  This year it wasn't anything so dramatic, but still I have to wonder.  I had two common redpolls stop by only for the count.  Never saw them prior and haven't seen them since.   Guess they just wanted to stand up and be counted.

A disgruntled looking redpoll.
A hungry common redpoll.

A handsome Goldfinch.


Full feeders.

Final tally:

1 Blue Jay
6 Goldfinches
4 Red Breasted Nuthatches
1 White Breasted Nuthatch
6 Chickadees
6 Juncos
2 Female Downy Woodpeckers
1 Male Hairy Woodpecker
4 Pine Siskins
2 Common Redpolls
2 Crows

I hope everyone enjoyed the bird count as much as I do.

8 comments:

  1. Never heard of Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finch is this a US bird? The bird caught by the hawk, if it was alive when you first saw it, it gets counted.

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  2. I've always wanted to participate in the bird count, but have never taken the plunge. Looks like you had a nice assortment come visiting! I'm not familiar with the Redpolls, don't think we have anything like that here.

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  3. I've done the count for the past 4 years and it is fun. We had few visitors this year, it was pretty rainy the whole time. We did have a Bald Eagle fly over so that was fun. I'd never heard of a Redpoll before.

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  4. I had a Red-headed Woodpecker going after its lunch in a rotted tree--it's the first time I've ever seen one and it was pretty amazing. Wish I had more time to watch birds like my Dad did--one day! XPXP

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  5. I'm not an avid birdwatcher, but I do think they're beautiful! I enjoy seeing them come to the feeders on my parents' deck when we visit.

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  6. Is this something within your county? Sounds very interesting! How wonderful for you to have all those birds visiting!! We've got to get our feeders going again!

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  7. I wondered if this was another from Cornell, I have done their December count.A nice variety to enjoy each day.

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  8. I loved seeing and reading your bird count!

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Sit on my porch and let's chat. Due to the amount of spam I am closing my comments to Anonymous users. Sorry.