Busy backyard

[Rob'in'To]

We have had a very busy backyard this weekend.  13 species recorded and 93 birds counted amongst the species.  Not bad really even with a Coopers present at one point.

How are others doing with their feeder activity?

[Axeman]

The usual avian suspects minus a few this year....I generally get: juncos, chickadees, blue jays, cardinals, red and white breasted nuthatch, hairy and downy woodpeckers and an American tree sparrow...this year no tree sparrow or white breasted nuthatch and fewer juncos but we've had a few visits from goldfinches and mourning doves...this weekend just jays, chickadees, cardinals, juncos and a hairy....and that's without a cooper or shinny about.

[Rob'in'To]

My surprise this year is how little Sparrow activity I am getting.  Previous years with the PFW, some days had over 20 House Sparrows.  I haven't seen more than probably 5 or 6 at any given time.

A lot more Hawk action this season than ever before.  And the same with Chickadees too.  Three years ago we barely saw one.  Then a pair nested two years ago and now there's 6 buzzing around.

The Finch activity is insane but I am not complaining.  I wonder if this will continue through the warmer months?  I get Finches all year round but having up to 30 Gold at once might be spectacular when they change their colors.

No WBNHs this year has been a disappointment.

But having little Pigeon activity is okay lately since they are all getting picked off by the Hawks.

[Reuven_M]

Fairly small numbers, goldfinches, house finches, house sparrows, juncos, chickadees, cardinals, white-breasted nuthatch is about it.

[Axeman]

PFW  ? WBNH ?

[Reuven_M]

PFW  ? WBNH ?

PFW = project feederwatch presumably
WBNH = white-breasted nuthatch

[Axeman]

Stand
            I

[jnieuwenhuis17]

In our backyard we have been very lucky, with a few American tree sparrows, white crowned sparrows, and one White throated sparrow lagging behind. Common we have house sparrows, dark eyes juncos, house finches, red and white breasted nuthatches, both downy and hairy WP, and one red bellied WP. Cardinal's blue jays, and mourning doves. We have had a regular Coopers hawk visit frequently. Two mornings ago when it was still dark we had a rabbit picked off in our backyard... I am curious to know what had taken it at that hour!

[Luv2Bird]

Our backyard is quite busy too .. as long as I keep the feeders filled.  How do you "count" them?  How do we know it's not the same bird?  

We've had:  many House sparrows, Chickadees, Carolina Wren, dark eyes juncos, AMG Finches, red and white breasted nuthatches, both downy and hairy WP, mourning doves , two pair male and female cardinals and many Robins.  No Blue Jays lately and one Sharp-shinned last week.  I think that's 13 species .. which is awesome.   I put out a new sunflower seed feeder which the birds found quickly enough , but so did the squirrels.  

[Rob'in'To]

I count them at different times in my two days of the week that I do the Project Feeder Watch.  I only use whatever is the highest count I see at once, and not add up any separate counts.  This ensures not counting the same bird twice.  And with some birds, I make notes on the sex as well since they are easy to identify...  like the Cardinals, Downy Woodpeckers, House Finches.

I have 4 nyjer feeders up now which probably explains my 30 or so Gold Finches.  The tough part is when some Siskins squeeze in there with their backs turned to me, they look like the goldies.

I have to be quick in counting since nobody stays still for very long.

And thanks to everyone sharing their sightings in their own yards.

Oh, we've also noticed a 'Possum some nights under the feeders.  It was even out there one morning around 7:30am, which is kinda late I'd think for a creature of the night.

[RKD]

We are lucky to have a regular flock of 20-30 Red Polls with about as many Pine Siskens and Gold Finches. I need to use my binos to get their numbers and would be much easier if they didn't fly up as I get halfway through counting them. My other regulars this winter are about 6 American Tree Sparrows, 2 pairs of Cardinals (we've only ever had one pair consistently) Junkos, chickadees, House Finches Mourning Doves, 5 Blue Jays daily again a first for staying the winter (but that's probably cause they know I throw them a handful of peanuts when they yell at me), one male Red Bellied Woodpecker, 2 pairs Downies, Hairy, Red and White Breasted Nuthatch, a Piliated who comes to nearby trees but never to the feeders, and of course two regular visitors a Sharp shinned and Coopers looking for dinner. All in all a very good winter for us and with this approaching storm the feeders seemed to be particularly busy today and I expect will be busy tomorrow

[RKD]

Oh and two rabbits, guess they'll be into my carrots again this summer

[Rob'in'To]

When we were "night Owls", pardon the expression, we'd shine a flash-light into the garden some nights, and occasionally see 6 glowing eyes at us, and 8 another time (4 pairs).  Skunks or Raccoons I recon as we don't see Rabbits around here.

[Axeman]

bet you won't see any eyes peering back on this really cold morning !

[Sahria]

The only birds I have now are House Sparrows and Finches, Mourning Doves, one female Downy, and the occasional Brown headed Cowbirds. I've had no Robins but I did see a Hermit Thrush while I was out walking about a week ago.