Great Backyard Bird Count!

An American Tree Sparrow under a feeder in our yard.

I hope you have done your part to help with this fantastic citizen science project! It's very simple, just go to http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/whycount.html and follow the instructions.

We've done it for the past three years now and it always seems to snow on that day! The snow does make the birds come to the feeders. So far, nothing very unusual to report. We did have a Red-tailed Hawk in the way back of the yard for a moment, and the Cooper's Hawk (Bob) flew through to shake things up.

A few things I've noticed today, only two Dark-eyed Juncos in the gardens. We have had quite a few more in the past. And the male American Goldfinches are getting brighter plumage...o-boy, spring is nearing!

I'll update this post if anything exciting happens. Let me know if you get a good bird out there!

American Goldfinch in one of our little evergreens.

Red-tailed hawk in the back corner of our yard...looking for breakfast?

4pm update:

The Cooper's Hawk came for two more visits. On the first visit I was trying to get a shot of a Cardinal through our dining room window when everyone took off in an explosion of feathers. Rocket Bob (the Cooper's Hawk) blasted past the window brushing his wings against it and snagged a Cardinal that was sitting so briefly on a holly bush. I guess I'll have to change the counts now...

On his (or a relatives) second visit, he was in the way back and dived down into the scrub where the Sparrows roost. I didn't see if he was successful or not, though I did see a good number of escapees!

This year, the count has been lower, possibly due to our buddy Bob. We haven't seen the Titmouse, Chickadee, or any of the woodpeckers that usually stop by for a snack at one of the eight feeders. We have something for everyone, black oil sunflower, thistle, cracked corn, suet, and a delightful blend of nuts, including macadamia nuts, spoiled rotten birds...

Maybe we'll have better luck on Sunday.

Springtime...for a day...

What a great day for a walk in the woods! The end of December and 65 degrees, we all thought it was spring, for a moment at least.



I went to Sandy Ridge Reservation in Lorain county for a little walk and some fresh air. Quite a few others had the same idea and I met a number of birders getting out and about. Everyone was having a good time and enjoying the sights and sounds and the smell of fresh air.



As you can see, I saw a Great Horned Owl, always a neat surprise. It was pointed out to me, after a lot of direction by, what a coincidence, relatives of my neighbor. Small world! After I took a few photos, of the back side of the Owl of course, a more mature (a nice way of saying 'older than me') birder came up to see what I had found. He had been coming to the park for a long time and has heard about the Owl but, had never been able to locate it. After more pointing and describing of limbs and trees and forks and branches and, not the Nuthatch, to the left and up a little higher, no not that high, you're getting closer, no to the left, up, up, there!! At long last he has a Great Horned Owl to add to his list.



Everyone I bumped into had a story of birding, whether it was just the darned Sparrows at their feeders or of Cooper's Hawks, also at their feeders, cutting back on the Sparrow population or trips to exotic places for exotic birds, all great stories. That's one of the best things about birders, they are all friendly and will all have a good story and a smile to share.



Oh, I also saw a few birds today...



Yes, there is a bird in there! I'll give you a hint, it's from behind(of course!)...