I was visiting a website that Toni recommended to me for bird identification. It is a wonderful site sponsored by the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. Beautiful photographs and a wealth of information on birds. They have a nest cam in a barn owl nest. :-D http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommuni ... x?pid=1189 An article on The Great Backyard Bird Count caught my attention. I am planning on participating and thought I would share the information with you all if you would like to participate. For More Info go to: http://www.birdcount.org ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden ) "The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent and in Hawaii. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It's free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds."
This looks good Gail...we have something like this also here in nederland and I believe they do it in GB as well. I believe these counts are great scvientific import...they are also fun to do and then see the total outcomes in the various areas. With a modicum of 'think work'; should you want to take it one step further, one can notice seasonal and yearly changes in ranges and times of presence. Way to go, Gail & Toni--good postings!
I do an annual bird count here in Scotland and it's amazing how many species you can get in your own garden. I always set up lots of different types of natural food for the birds which they really seem to appreciate year round. We've noticed, over the years, how some birds are reduced in number whist others are on the increase and even new species have arrived. These surveys are so important so I'd urge everyone, that can, to take part in one in their own area.
Like Eileen, I also do the annual back garden bird check (the RSPB, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) I usually have loads of different species of birds visiting but strangely enough when the day comes, I often find that the numbers of birds visiting have reduced as if the little critters know they are being watched! Other people have said the same so I don't think it is just me. I hope the numbers are up this year so that I can give a comprehensive account of what birds visit my garden.
You can see my photo of a stellers jay that they used Stellers Jay http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Publicatio ... _jays.html OK you see my real name DD
Very nice photo DD. Enjoyed seeing your stellar jay and the article by Cornell...wonderful website and resource.
That is a great site. Very informative and interesting. Thanks for sharing it again. I wish I'd had a camera on my cats when I opened the bird calls! They like the site a lot too.
