Time for Project Feederwatch to begin for the season! I am ready to go this year and have me days planned for observing our feeders. It only takes a few minutes on two consecutive days each week to participate. If you miss a week, that is okay too…just pick up when you can.
Watch a video on how to get started.
I love weaving a citizen science project like this into our lives. We have several feeders we can see from our windows and keeping them filled with seed is easy. Those feeders become the focal point of our bird observations because for Project Feederwatch you only count birds that come to eat.
We have participated for the last two years and it is interesting to compare our numbers from year to year.
We are already seeing some of our winter residents arriving from their summer migration areas.
What are you seeing at your feeders this month? Are you anticipating the return of any birds to your feeders?
Here is what we had at our feeders this week:
Dark eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
House Finches
Anna’s Hummingbirds
Spotted Towhee
Western Scrub Jays
Titmouse
Starlings (in the trees, not the feeder though)
Goldfinches
White-breasted nuthatches
Plus a NEW BIRD!!!
This is the first time ever I spotted a Bewick’s Wren in my backyard! I was out trying to capture my Spotted towhee when this little guy caught my eye. He was flitting around in the shrubs and he ended up on the lilac branches in my butterfly garden. I wasn’t sure if I could get him because he was fast! But, there he is and the image is clear enough that I was able to go in and identify him using WhatBird? and AllAboutBirds.com. He is new on my life list and he will be going into my nature journal soon.
I will be sharing my bird lists each month and if you do the same you can drop me a comment and I will come and take a look.
You may be interested in following my Nature Study-Birds Pinterest board!
Thanks for this, what a good idea. I’m preggers again and feeling lethargic, etc. This will be great for our nature study 🙂