PROJECT FEEDER WATCH—
Each winter I participate in this bird counting effort for the ornithologists at Cornell University. We record and report both the total quantity and different species of birds seen at the feeders over two days on alternate weekends.
My supply of both birds and species usually is abundant. This report, for example, I saw 17 different species. Imagine that. And, the greatest quantity of any one species seen at one time was Cardinals; 20 of them!
Less common birds appearing in my count this time include: white throated sparrows, flickers, and Carolina wrens; of which it is not uncommon to see only one each during the count periods.
Over 30,000 of us (“citizen scientists” we are called) across the US participate and our raw data are crunched by the real scientists who keep a watchful eye on population trends, range expansions or contractions, and bird health for examples.
We pay close attention for evidence of conjunctivitis; an eye disease that is hurting the house finches and has spread to the goldfinches.
Each winter I participate in this bird counting effort for the ornithologists at Cornell University. We record and report both the total quantity and different species of birds seen at the feeders over two days on alternate weekends.
My supply of both birds and species usually is abundant. This report, for example, I saw 17 different species. Imagine that. And, the greatest quantity of any one species seen at one time was Cardinals; 20 of them!
Less common birds appearing in my count this time include: white throated sparrows, flickers, and Carolina wrens; of which it is not uncommon to see only one each during the count periods.
Over 30,000 of us (“citizen scientists” we are called) across the US participate and our raw data are crunched by the real scientists who keep a watchful eye on population trends, range expansions or contractions, and bird health for examples.
We pay close attention for evidence of conjunctivitis; an eye disease that is hurting the house finches and has spread to the goldfinches.
It’s a nice way to endure winter’s bluster while making a helpful contribution to the scholarly study of our feathered friends.
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