Citizen Science: Project FeederWatch -- Count #01 Report w/Original Photos [100% SP]
I typically watch birds on Saturday and Sunday. This is my report for 12-13 November 2016.
The 30th season of Project FeederWatch kicked off 12 November 2016.
The 2016-2017 season goes through 7 April 2017.
Crime Scene
Early Sunday morning at about 4 a.m. I was awaken by a comotion in the backyard. It was a family of racoons mixing it up with a possum. I had heard and seen this scoffle before and went back to sleep.
As dawn was breaking I looked out into the backyard. Much to my surprise my feeder full of peanuts was on the ground.
Just before sunrise I took my cell phone out with me to investigate the crime scene.
Original Photo
Here is a sketch of the suspect:
Created Using Microsoft PowerPoint ClipArt
As the sun was rising I topped off the feeder with peanuts and put it back in place.
Original Photo
I guess one shouldn't cry over spilt peanuts.
Original Photo
Bird Watching Notes
I watched birds at the feeders Saturday morning and afternoon. There was nothing out of the ordinary.
Sunday morning I was sitting at my computer when I heard a crow call. I sprung into action and rushed to the window to see three American Crows feasting on the spilled peanuts. The sun was shining very brightly into my windows as I tried to focus my camera on the crows. Then suddenly a Sharp-Shinned Hawk landed nearby. The hawk was about the same size if not a tad smaller than the crows. The crows were intimidated enough that they flew away. So I focused my efforts on photographing the hawk with my Cannon 7D camera. Please excuse the sun glare.
Original Photo
The Sharp-Shinned Hawk is not uncommon to this part of Nebraska in the late fall and winter. I'll admit that it is hard to distinguish between a Cooper's Hawk and a Sharp-Shinned Hawk.
Image Source
You can learn more about the Sharp-Shinned Hawk on the Audubon webpage.
While I was watching the hawk there were also two squirrels watching the hawk. The squirrels were less intimidated by the hawk than the crows. After the hawk flew away one of the squirrels started munching on the peanuts.
Original Photo
A little while later a squirrel was hanging on my spherical feeder gorging on black oil sunflower seeds.
Original Photo
The squirrel didn't seem to mind the birds at all.
Original Photo
Bird Counts
My bird counts for the two-day period 12-13 November 2016.
Snapshot from Project FeederWatch Bird Count Summary
Signing Up for the 2016-2017 Season
Project FeederWatch is a great way to introduce children and adults to science and conservation through bird watching.
If you are interested in joining Project FeederWatch this season, you can learn more and sign-up at the Project FeederWatch website. During the 21 week season you will need to record your observations during two consecutive days each week.
Previous Project FeederWatch Post
Citizen Science: Project FeederWatch -- Data Entry
Nice report! I'm glad you got to see that hawk, even if it reduced your overall count of birds for the day. I'll check out the Feeder Watch. Do you do the Audubon Christmas bird count, too?
No I have not done the Audubon Christmas bird count. I am never sure where I will be for Christmas. Over the Christmas holiday I sometimes shift the days I count birds to the days that I can commit to watching the feeders.
Thanks for reading and supporting my post!
Steem on,
Mike
If you are traveling over the holidays, it's worth checking if there is a Christmas count nearby. It's a great chance to see a lot of different birds in a day, with some good birders. The Audubon groups are always happy to have new people join them on the count - especially people like you who know birds.
Keep your feeders stocked up -- and those squirrels preoccupied somehow! ; )
Thanks! I will keep the feeders stocked up. And the squirrels, raccoons, and possum will always be around.
I just need to buy some new straps for the feeder. The raccoons are pretty clever when it comes to getting what they want.
Thanks again,
Steem on,
Mike
They have nothing else to do except focus on a good bird feeder challenge, lol. : )