Project FeederWatch Begins This Saturday, November 11th!!

Welcome back.  As time continues to fly by, we find ourselves in November.  I always look forward to November for several reasons.  First, the end of the gardening season signals the beginning of the winter bird watching season.  Even though I love gardening and summer, it is refreshing to get a break from all of the other summer chores.  So my interests shift from gardening to bird watching, and of course the anticipation of the coming holidays.

As the blog title implies, Project FeederWatch is again upon us.

Do you-already enjoy watching birds, or maybe you want to learn about this fascinating hobby?  Are you looking for a great activity (low cost) that involves the whole family?  Then Project FeederWatch is for you.

How do you begin?  Below are some simple instructions to get you started and even a video to watch:

1. Sign up – If you have not yet signed up, join today! During the season, it takes a few weeks from when you sign up for your kit to arrive with your ID number and for your ID number to be activated in Your Data.
2. Select your count site – Choose a portion of your yard that is easy to monitor, typically an area with feeders that is visible from one vantage point.
3. Choose your count days – Select two consecutive days as often as once a week (less often is fine). Leave at least five days when you do not count between each of your two-day counts.
4. How to count – Watch your feeders as much or a little as you want over your selected count days. Record the maximum number of each species visible at any one time during your two-day count. Keep one tally across both days. Do not add your counts together!
5. What to count – Please count
   • all of the individuals of each species in view at any one time
   • birds attracted to food or water you provided
   • birds attracted to fruits or ornamental plantings
   • hawks and other predatory birds that are attracted by the birds at your feeders
   But do not count
   • birds that simply fly over the count site, such as Canada Geese or Sandhill Cranes.
   • birds seen on non-count days
6. Report your counts – Submit counts through the Your Data section of our website.

So sign up today as the project starts on November 11th and runs through April 13, 2018.  The website not only has information regarding how to participate, but also offers a wealth of other information including how to feed birds, feeder location, bird identification, bird diseases, a blog, bird cams, and information on the photo contests and prizes involved.

The instructions above indicate it can take several weeks for your kit to arrive with your ID number.  Not to worry,  You can record your counts on paper until your ID arrives, then catch up online with the data entry. 

Finally, I leave you with a photo I took last winter.  Enjoy.