The Great Backyard Bird Count Starts Tomorrow/Winter Sowing

Welcome back.  Time is flying by as always and we find ourselves just a day away from the start of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).

Winter is finally settling in as this weekend will bring the coldest air since last February.  So far, this winter has brought only brief cold snaps, unlike last winter's long lasting brutal cold.

Later in this post, I will discuss winter sowing,  For those of you unfamiliar to this technique, certain vegetables can be sowed outside now in the cold and they will sprout in the Spring!  Don't believe me? See below for more details.

First, a couple of recent bird photos for your enjoyment:

House Sparrows

Northern Cardinal and House sparrow

I recently posted information about the GBBC in my post on January 29, 2016.


Below is some simple steps to follow in order to participate:


Are You Ready?

If you have not participated in the GBBC since before the 2013 merger with eBird, create a free account to enter your data.  Save your username and password in a safe place.

Can't remember your username or password? look for the links on the sign-in page (under the blue button) to re-set your username or password.

Have questions about how to count the birds you see? Please print and review the GBBC Downloadable instructions.

If you want to enter your GBBC observations from the field, download the free eBird Mobile app for either IOS or Android devices.


So sign up today, sharpen your pencils and dust off the binoculars.  And remember, this is a great family activity.


To show just how popular this project is, below is some stats from last year's count:

Top 10 countries by checklists submitted

Country	Number of Species	Number of Checklists
United States	671	108,396
Canada	241	10,491
India	717	6,810
Australia	524	812
Mexico	653	425
Costa Rica	559	303
Portugal	197	193
New Zealand	126	161
Ecuador	784	138
Honduras	353	133

Can I Plant Seeds Outdoors Now?  In The Cold?  Really?  The Answer Is Yes!

Believe it or not, it is possible to plant seeds in containers now, place outdoors in the snow, and they will germinate in the Spring.  The technique is called winter sowing.

The best results will be with cold hardy, short season vegetables such as kale, lettuce, spinach, onions, leeks, radishes, and Brussels sprouts.  Tomatoes and peppers will also germinate, but will be delayed compared to those started indoors and will mature much later.  The nice thing is that seeds sown this way require absolutely no care once planted until they germinate.

The technique is simple, start with a one gallon milk or water jug that is clean.  Cut the jug in half except to leave one area to act as a hinge,  Drain holes should be drilled in the bottom also.

Fill the container with a good seed starting mix or potting soil and wet thoroughly.  Potting soil actually works better since it tends to absorb and retain more moisture, whereas seed starting mix (usually just peat moss) tends to dry out very quickly.

The excess water will drain via the drain holes.  Never use your garden soil for starting plants, since the microorganisms (bacteria, fungus, mold) can hamper the germination process and even kill seedlings.

Plant the seeds and cover with the appropriate amount of soil as per directions on the seed packet. Water again lightly.  I use a spray bottle for this since a mist doesn't disturb the seeds during the watering process.

The final step is to seal the containers with duct tape and place outside.   That's right, place them out in the snow with caps removed.  The opening in the top will allow moisture to enter and also prevent the containers from overheating once spring arrives.

I planted Siberian Improved Dwarf kale, White Lisbon onions (scallions), Baby Romaine lettuce, and Long Island Improved Brussels sprouts.

In future posts I will follow the progress of the winter sowing.  With wind chills expected to be in the minus 30 Fahrenheit range this weekend,, the seeds won't be germinating any time soon.

Until next time.