Cooper's Hawk Vs. Squirrel At The Bird Feeder

Bird Feeder

When a pair of the squirrels scooted up a nearby tree, things got testy, in an adversarial kind of way. Perched on a thin limb that gave it a great vantage point to observe the goings-on at the feeder was a meat-eater, a predator, a Cooper's hawk.

Backyard standoff ends in peaceful parting

Ornithologists Depend On The Great Backyard Bird Count For Important Data

Bird Feeder

There is still time to get involved in the 2012 Great Backyard Bird count. Click the link below to read more about one birdwatchers experience.

But she insists birdwatching is not an expensive hobby. She figured she spends about $15 a month on seed. (She lives in a subdivision without mature trees, so pilfering squirrels aren’t an issue.)

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2012/02/18/2157594/backyard-bird-count-to-help-ornith...

Backyard Bird Count to help ornithologists

Rules For The 2012 Great Backyard Bird Count

Your Bird Feeder

Here are the rules for the 2012 Great Backyard Bird Count. Click the link at the bottom for more details.

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you're likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number of each species you see on this checklist.

3. When you're finished, enter your results through our web page. You'll see a button marked "Enter Your Checklists!" on the website home page beginning on the first day of the count. It will remain active until the deadline for data submission.

How to Participate

Great Backyard Bird Count 2012

Your Bird Feeder

This looks like a great new feature for the Bird Count. Click the link at the bottom for more details.

During this year's Great Backyard  Bird Count, February 17-20, you’re going to see something new in the corner of the website home page where the map is located. As each checklist is entered online, it will show up as a bright dot on the map. As the tens of thousands of reports come in, the map should light up like mini-fireworks! You’ll be able to click on the map to make it larger so you get the full impact of all those bird watchers reporting their tallies. Watch for it! 

Great Backyard Bird Count

 

Get Ready For The 2012 Great Backyard Bird Count

Bird Feeder

Learn about the 2012 Great Backyard Bird Count:

"Bird enthusiasts across the U.S. and Canada are gearing up for the Great Backyard Bird Count. It’s not too late to participate in the February 17-20 event. It’s free to participate, and everything is available online. The GBBC is open to anyone, including novice bird-watchers and students. Participants don’t need to be able to identify every bird, and the online submission process helps check their accuracy and prevent errors. Out of excuses yet?"

Got Birds? Get Ready to Count!

2012 Great Backyard Bird Count Presentation

Your Bird Feeder

"Download the 2012 PowerPoint presentation explaining how to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, why participation is needed, and what we can learn from the count. It also features the top 10 birds reported during the last count."

Give a slide show

2012 Great Backyard Bird Count

Bird Feeder

"Anyone can participate in this free event and no registration is needed. Watch and count birds for at least 15 minutes on any day of the count, February 17-20, 2012. Enter your results at www.birdcount.org, where you can watch as the tallies grow across the continent. The four-day count typically records more than 10 million observations."

Great Backyard Bird Count Perfect for New Birders