For the birds?

[altivo]

It's coming in two weeks. It's easy. Do your part for natural science. Great for kids and adults alike. Contains no trans fats even. Click for details:

Comments

[megadog.livejournal.com]

The .UK equivalent was a week ago.

My list included Blue- Great- and Coal-tits [varieties of Chickadee as you statesiders would call them], a Sparrowhawk, three Buzzards, along with various Crows, Magpies, Blackbirds, Dunnocks, Robins, Pigeons, a Pheasant and a Grey Heron.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I saw a small hawk (probably a sharp shin) in the crabapple tree just outside my work window this morning. That was a bit of a surprise, though come to think of it I believe I reported one in last year's count taken at home.

[megadog.livejournal.com]

I get lots of random raptors round here; there's usually a family of Buzzards soaring over the forest [and getting cruelly harrassed by the local crows] or sitting on a branch watching out for something to die. I've also had a Kestrel perch on the insulator of my HF radio antenna, and what I suspect is a Merlin flying round here in a rather spectacular 110%-committed style.

At weekends when doing stuff with the wolves, we get a lot of Red Kites coming over. They're scavengers - and clearly still associate the presence of large carnivores with the opportunity to snatch an easy meal!

[shadow-stallion.livejournal.com]

My backyard bird count would probably be near zero as a certain malamute likes to chase them off. However, the squirrels are the ones that really make him go crazy insane.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oddly, neither of our dogs pays the least attention to squirrels. One of them, though is an actual bird catcher. Like a cat. She has to be watched or she'll eat them. She's learned to recognize the sound of a bird hitting the plate glass window in the dining room too, and rushes out through the dog door to pick up the unconscious/dead body if there is one. Fortunately, most of them fly away from that, but she's caught more than one that way.

Since the dogs do not have free access to the yard, only to an enclosed run along the side of the house, this doesn't deter birds at all. We get a large variety because Gary keeps feeders full year round.

[shadow-stallion.livejournal.com]

Well, I do have a unique and crazy animal. I don't know what it is about squirrels but he just goes nuts if sees one. Chasing birds is more of a now and then/mood thing for him. I have seen him lay right by his food bowl and let them eat out of it.

As far as I know, the only creature that Niko has managed to catch has been a possum.

I wouldn't mind having a bird feeder or two out but we really don't have a good place to put one that would be away from Niko as well as keeping feathers, seeds and poo out of the pool. Texas is known for small yards ya know. :P

[soanos.livejournal.com]

I see... green curtains, and darkness. :o

Somehow I doubt I will be seeing any birds anytime soon. :D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, this is a North America event anyway, but you're allowed to go walk in the park. ;p

[soanos.livejournal.com]

A bit tired to do that now I think. Long journey behind me.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I saw that. You've had a crazy time for sure, and a stressful one too.

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Does this mean we have two weeks to put out lots of extra seed and suet, and birdbaths with running water, all to attract more birds than we otherwise would?

No? Why not? :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, actually. The way they analyze this count, it doesn't matter. They will ask for the largest number of any given species that you saw at once during any single observation period. So if you see two cardinals, and 20 minutes later three cardinals, you count three. They're after species distribution, more than population, I think, so putting out food is acceptable, even desirable. It's a feeder count.

Audubon conducts two national counts a year. I was on the one in December and on both of them in 2007. Those are looking at population counts (rough ones.) This count is sponsored by Cornell University and runs in a different way.

[rustitobuck.livejournal.com]

So, uh, you want a count of the pigeons on the electric wire over the parking lot?

Yes, I'm deprived.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It doesn't have to be literally your yard. You can choose any observation point and count for an hour or so. Pigeons are valid, though. ;p

[saythename.livejournal.com]

Hmmm!