Citizen Science: Project FeederWatch -- Count #03 Report w/Original Photos [100% SP]
Citizen science is a great way to involve children and adults in discovery and contribute to scientific research and conservation. Project FeederWatch through Cornell University is a great way to get involved in citizen science. You can learn more at the Project FeederWatch website.
I typically watch birds on Saturday and Sunday. This is my report for 26-27 November 2016.
Created Using MS PowerPoint and Images from Project FeederWatch
November 2016
The 2016-2017 season goes through 7 April 2017.
Bird Watching Notes
Before the Two-Day Count Period
The raccoons were back Thanksgiving night. They somehow managed to take down my feeder filled with peanuts. I reinforced the straps on the feeder to prevent the raccoons from taking it down again at night. It worked. But this only caused them to go after my spherical feeder full of black oil sunflower seeds. C'est la vie.
Saturday
Saturday morning started with a fantastic sunrise.
Original Photo
Some of the first visitors to the feeders were three squirrels. They foraged on the ground for awhile then one of them decided to go directly to the source.
Original Photo
Saturday was a very nice day and a great day for photographing the birds visiting my feeders.
House Finch
House Finches are regulars at my feeders and common throughout most of the U.S.
Original Photo
Image Source
More information on House Finches can be found in the Audubon Field Guide.
White Breasted Nuthatch
White Breasted Nuthatches are also regulars to my feeders. They are common to this area of eastern Nebraska.
Original Photo
Image Source
More information on White Breasted Nuthatches can be found in the Audubon Field Guide.
Red Bellied Woodpecker
I have observed Red Bellied Woodpeckers for many years even though they are supposedly uncommon to this part of Nebraska.
Original Photo
Image Source
More information on Red Bellied Woodpeckers can be found in the Audubon Field Guide.
Red Winged Blackbird
Original Photo
Image Source
More information on Red Winged Blackbirds can be found in the Audubon Field Guide.
Northern Cardinal
This is the last photograph I took Saturday as the sun was setting. The female Northern Cardinal was not easy to photograph, but I was able to take photo of her on the ground.
Original Photo
Image Source
More information on Northern Cardinals can be found in the Audubon Field Guide.
Sunday
Sunday morning started out over cast with clouds. It was not good for taking pictures. Then it started raining for the rest of the day.
Additional Notes
The Rock Pigeons did not show up while I was watching the feeders this weekend.
Still no sign of Morning Doves yet this season. This is unusual. Typically I have observed Morning Doves during observation days. I will keep looking for the Morning Doves.
Bird Counts
Counts for Current Period
My bird counts for the two-day period 19-20 November 2016.
Snapshot from Project FeederWatch Bird Count Summary
Summary of Counts this Season
Snapshot from Project FeederWatch Bird Count Summary
Previous Project FeederWatch Post
Citizen Science: Project FeederWatch -- Count #02
Use of Original Photos
I used the SteemIt icon in my photo credit to indicate these photographs were originally posted on SteemIt.
The photographs in this post are free to be used by anyone as long as the photo credit is left on the photographs.
Thank You!
I'ts interesting that you have so many red-winged blackbirds. I don't think of them as feeder-type birds. But they must be -- there they are! And you squirrels need a diet. That one climbing up the pole is a porker! ; )
I'm not sure if the squirrels are predicting a very cold and harsh winter. In about a month below zero (F) temperatures will not be unexpected. During the winter we typically have a week of below zero temperatures with strong winds that can send the wind chill to 30 below. That is why I am not too concerned about the squirrels eating the peanuts too. If I had to live outside during the winter without the benefit of fire, I would fatten up too! As it is I am gaining a bit from the holidays, but not as much as those squirrels :-)
The flock of red-winged blackbirds sometimes just stop here for a time before heading further south. If I had my choice of flying south every year, I think I would fly south too.
There will be a population of red-winged blackbirds sticking it out through the winter.
The red-winged blackbirds and starlings love peanuts. They typically eat the peanuts first then the black oil sunflower seeds before finally feasting on the coarse sunflower seeds. If they are still hungry after devouring all that they will start on the nijer seed. They do have a pecking order of preference for the different type of food.
Steem on,
Mike
At least those cold temperatures help out the gardeners by knocking back the aphids. The squirrels are lucky to have you in the neighborhood. Hope you see a good variety of birds this weekend!
My humming bird feeder on day two already had humming birds at it. My camera does not get close enough to really take great photos, plan to post on it. I have also see a couple finches sitting on the feeder trying to figure out how to drink from it unsuccessfully.
In another part of town I did see a roadrunner eating a finch, which I did a post on.
It is rewarding to see success. Humming birds are a summertime bird here. While I am doing the bird counts it is rare to see a hummingbird. One year I planted some flowers out by my feeders to attract humming birds. I saw a few that summer. I look forward to seeing your hummingbird pictures posted!
I upvoted your roadrunner post. I knew roadrunners ate small reptiles but did not know they ate finches. We do not have roadrunners here so that was an interesting post.
Steem on and keep the great posts coming!
Mike