Crumbly Acres Bird Count!

 It was the Christmas bird count around here, Dec. 17th.  It was Day 2 of our last week's snowstorm. I set the camera up in the window, with the zoom lens. There was about a foot of snow on the ground. The evergreen tree was a wonderful place for birds to land in safety.

We had 20 mourning doves, a regular flock around the feeders. A pair of downy and a pair of Hairy woodpeckers. Three blue jays, two crows, 7 black-capped chickadees. ONE white-breasted nuthatch. Four goldfinches, and a single junco. Finally, a pair of cardinals. I sent in my numbers to our team leader.

My totals: 44 individuals, and 10 species. The cardinals really liked the snow cover in the evergreen. It was a perfect shelter. 

Dec. 21, after that storm, the deer were taking it easy under the trees.

doe a deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Dec. 15 Christmas Bird Count

It's a tradition, the Christmas bird count.

• wild turkey – 6 females
• mourning doves – 9
• downy woodpecker – 2 (M & F)
• hairy woodpecker – 2 (M & F)
• blue jay – 6
• American crow – 3
• black-capped chickadee – 10
• red-breasted nuthatch – 2
• white-breasted nuthatch  – 2
• evening grosbeak – 3 (2 M, 1 F)
• American goldfinch – 3
• dark-eyed junco – 1
• northern cardinal – 1 M

Total individuals: 50

Total species: 13

In the meantime, they still tout the 'data' of cats as killers! Mine? During the day... they are more concerned with the red squirrels than the birds!

Historical data

Bird count day – December 16th (2017)

It's bird count day!
The Great Rideau Ferry Bird Count! (2015)
Bird hunting!

The Great Rideau Ferry Bird Count!

Dec. 19 was our local bird count. Our feeder was pretty busy, but with our regular crew. I took a long walk in the forest and didn't see any exciting birds. It was somewhat disappointing. Here are the birds I saw! Scuttlebutt has it that all the bird watchers had lower numbers. It was 10 C. the day before, and then a sudden drop and snow overnight.
Funnily enough, I found Tigger licking bird seed from the feeder the day after! Tigger stole the bird seed!

What was fun is that I first saw two goldfinches in their olive coats, then 3 together, then 4 and finally 6, by the end of the day. It was as if the word spread and they all came out! Several had a drink of water in the heated bird bath.

Goldfinch, junco, woodpeckers, nuthatches, blue jays, chickadees, mourning doves, robins.



Happily, I've seen THESE winter birds at other times, even if they chose not to appear in the count. Some are just rebels like this! Just like people who refuse to fill in their census forms!

Saw-whet owl, barred owl, redpoll, purple finch, cardinal, grouse, pileated woodpecker, red-tailed hawk, snowy owl, sharp-shinned hawk, bald eagle, the three musketeers (American crows!).