A few weeks ago I signed up for Project FeederWatch.
Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. FeederWatchers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send their counts to Project FeederWatch. FeederWatch data help scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.
Anyone with an interest in birds can participate. Counting begins the second Saturday of November and runs for 21 weeks: November 14 to April 9. The program is supported almost entirely by participation fees which are $15 per registrant. This covers materials, staff support, web design, data analysis, and a year-end report.
In anticipation of the start of the program I’ve been observing and identifying the birds stopping to eat or drink in my yard. This weekend I observed the following:
- Northern Cardinal
- American Robin
- Blue Jay
- Downy Woodpecker
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- House Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco (3 different types)
- Chickadee
- House Finch
- American Goldfinch
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
