posted on December 23, 2000 09:00:05 AM
The Audubon Society and Cornell University hold a Christmas Bird Count each year . I've participated in this in the past when it was free, but there now may be a charge for adults . Cornell sends a newsletter to the participants after the tally. Anyway, I think this is still free for kids.
This year's count is Dec. 14 through Jan. 5. Even if you don't participate in counting the birds at your feeder or other selected locations, you can find interesting data at their website.( You just count the birds once on a particular day not during the entire two weeks or so if I remember correctly.)
The website is:
http://birdsource.cornell.edu/
I mention this because I've seen a decline in the number of birds coming to our feeder this winter and I'm wondering if others are seeing the same.
posted on December 23, 2000 10:34:01 AM
SAABsister:"I mention this because I've seen a decline in the number of birds coming to our feeder this winter and I'm wondering if others are seeing the same. "
That has been bothering me lately. Last winter I could not keep up with the birds at the feeder.
They would clean it out in one or two days.
This year I have not even had to fill it once a week. I have the bird feeder where I can see it from the computer and I have not seen a bird on it all morning.
I have seen a stray blue jay or two but nothing else.
Of course I do live in Pollution.. I mean Houston Texas.
I would say it might be the cats but the cat lady (4 cats) moved out next door so there are less not more cats in the neghiborhood.
posted on December 24, 2000 07:29:52 AM
SAABsister - You're welcome. Sorry I didn't post at that time, I was in a hurry. 'Tis the season... as they say.
Since we've only been here two winters, I'm not sure what is 'normal' for the bird population here, at this time of year, and what's not. We do see quite a few of them.
posted on December 24, 2000 09:12:56 AM
tegan, I've noticed the same thing. The feeders have only been refilled twice this winter. I haven't seen any of the usual finches, sapsuckers, or siskins that we get in the winter. The only unusual bird I've had in our suet feeder has been a red shouldered hawk. I think the Cornell sight said that a mild fall has given the birds an abundance of natural foods to choose from and that we may see more activity as the winter progresses and that supply runs out.
Linda_K, I've been in the same house for 20 years. It's in the woods and it was quite an adjustment at first to learn to recognize a whole different group of birds. Happy holidays to you too.
posted on December 24, 2000 10:43:26 AM
Hello SAABSister,
We have never participated in the bird count but we feed the birds year round.
Black oil sunflower seed, wild songbird seed, safflower seed, and a year round type of "suet" mixture of lard, peanut butter, oatmeal.
I've noticed no diminishment in the bird population at the feeders this year. Indeed, if anything, the recent cold snap here just north of Atlanta has tended to concentrate the birds at the feeders a bit more than usual.
The only exception is that I've not yet seen any Ruby Crowned Kinglets, which in the past have always visited.
The only real decline in song bird populations I've noticed in our 14 years in Gerogia is of pine siskins. One winter they seemed like a plauge of locust at the feeders. Then they disappeared.
posted on December 24, 2000 11:21:52 AM
codasaurus, I grew up in north Georgia. I first started watching birds there. We lived in a subdivision and I remember seeing cardinals more than any other bird.
I live in the DC 'burbs now. This winter I can't seem to tempt the birds with anything. I get crows and possums or raccoons with the suet feeder and very little else. I've tried black oil sunflower seed and safflower seed supplemented with peanuts, raisins, etc. - seems to draw in the occasional squirrel but not many birds at this point. We've had snow on the ground for a few days and that alone used to draw the birds to the feeder. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. (My husband did throw out some clam shells when he made bouillabaisse yesterday and the crows are picking through those.)
posted on December 24, 2000 12:22:59 PM
I think maybe the birds knew this would be a bad winter. I have seen more birds down here than I have in years. So don't fret, they're not gone, just wintering in the south!
