For those of you in the USA, the Great Backyard Bird Count starts on Feb. 18. Birdwatchers from all over the nation report sightings, and contribute to a data base used by researchers. You don't have to be an expert--just report what you see and can identify, even if the birds are flying overhead. Taking part is free, and quite fun. For lots of information, and to sign up, go to http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/. We'll be participating from Red Gate Farm!
I have printed off my bird count sheets and cleaned the binoculars and like marlingardener says you do not have to be an expert. Join in the fun Feb 18th to 21st. Jerry
I printed off the bird count sheets...5 of them... with birds listed that are never likely to show up in my yard because they are shore birds. But that's what they say could be seen in my zip code, go figure.
Toni, We report weekly to the Cornell Backyard Bird Count, and weekly we get questioned about seeing Greater Yellowlegs, snipes, and various ducks. It seems that Cornell in upstate New York thinks that Texas doesn't have water! With our pond, we get waterfowl! Perhaps I ought to lie and use your zip code so they would believe us! And thanks Jerry and Toni for participating in GBBC! May many birds fly over and land for you!
Hi Toni, I looked at the list for your zip, maybe the bottom of the list didn't print. I see lots of inland birds. Databases are fun only when they have the data you want. Jerry
I'm definitely going to participate this year. Hopefully I will be able to get three different locations counted.
Edited to say.....I goofed. I had clicked the line to show this list with rare species just to see what they were and failed to unclick that when I printed out the list. Now it is only 3 pages and has a more realistic list of birds in this area. Oh, the whole list printed out. The inland birds that I have in my garden are scattered throughout the entire 5 pages. It's just the number of water birds and some of the other birds that do not even live in hot, dry north central Texas that had me scratching my head.
