Great Backyard Bird Count

[Leslie Kinrys]

The GBBC is back again on February 15-18. This year it is going global. Here's the site for all the latest news:

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/press/ne ... eb5release

I hope you all join in. Get your friends and families involved. Take a child birding. The birds need all the support they can get.

[Bird Brain]

Hi Leslie.  Can't wait - 4 days of birding fun!  

[Trillian Flummox]

Had a great time with my son last year and he's keen to do it again. Now to decide where to go. So many choices...

-kris  

[bronco]

Hoping you good folks can help --- during the GGBC if I watch for say 30 minutes and during that time I see a Blue Jay on 3 separate occasions - do I count that as 1 or 3??

Thanks, Gary

[Trillian Flummox]

Here's a helpful article from e-bird about estimating bird counts:  http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/bird-counting-101

I think if you are stationary for the 30 minutes (such as watching a bird feeder) you would only count 1 Blue Jay. But if you're walking and you have put a little distance between sightings you could count 3.  With Blue Jays of course you may be able to hear them calling to each other if there's more than one.

Have fun this weekend!  I'm heading out soon with my son to join the count!

-kris

[Bird Brain]

Not sure if everyone can handle this following "excitement" from this morning, Day #1 GBBC ...

 :roll:

House Sparrow x 1
Mallard x 70 - small open patch of water at West end of Lake Aquitaine by the concrete barrier
Mourning Dove x 1

For some reason at the moment, I'm unable to access GBBC Submit Your Bird Checklist.  Anyone else having problems?

[Reuven_M]

It's working fine for me, however since it's now completely integrated with ebird you may need to create an ebird account first.

[Bird Brain]

Thank You Reuven.  Much appreciated!  

I just submitted my information and was questioned on the high # (70) of Mallard.  lol  

Wow, it's SO easy to submit info and print off this year!  Very good!  

[Bird Brain]

 A much better Day #2 at Maplewood Park this morning - sun/cloud, -5c, no wind, light snow and clear walking trails.  Sighted the following:

2 Great Blue Heron ... Wow, a pleasant surprise!  
1 Cooper's Hawk ... "KEK!" and everything in the woods went completely quiet and still.  He was up in crook of tree.
3 Mourning Dove
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 American Crow
6 Black-capped Chickadee
3 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Dark-eyed Junco
7 Northern Cardinal
11 House Sparrow

[Napper]

Whoopeee  :roll:

Bunch of Canada Geese as usual
A group of Am goldfinches
A Couple of Male Cardinals

The Skunk last night was more exciting

Napper  

(weather Flurries) oops i missed a letter :oops:

[Bird Brain]

Day #3 (yesterday):  Not Happening due to -27c windchill.   :shock:

Day #4 (today) - Campbellville:

60 Canada Goose
1 Red-tailed Hawk
4 American Crow
35 European Starling

None of the above brought me any luck at Mohawk Casino.   :wink:

[Bird Brain]

An update:

This afternoon at 3pm, 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk with 1 imm. fly past my livingroom window and head up to rooftop of my building!