Project FeederWatch

This last weekend, Chase and I officially became citizen scientists! In an effort to give purpose to the time we spend staring out our kitchen window, we signed up for a program called Project Feederwatch through Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This program requires us to identify and count the different species of birds that visit the feeders in our yard. We then send this information to (official) Cornell ornithologists who use it to keep track of winter bird populations across the country.

Chase excitedly points out birds and squirrels to Ian.

We began watching birds this last summer after I received a bird feeder for my birthday. With the purchase of a large bag of sunflower seeds and a small bird identification book, we began our 'birding' adventure. By the beginning the fall, we found ourselves to be fairly proficient at identifying the birds who visited. We moved our tube feeder and suet basket so that it could be monitored from our kitchen and dining room during the colder months. The Hubs was kind enough to use his skill and muscle to construct a windowsill platform feeder, to attract the birds closer to the house.

Our first 'counting day' was rather boring. We were visited by only two kinds of birds, albeit our favorites: a downy woodpecker and five dark-eyed juncos. The second counting day was marvelous. Around lunchtime, while we were sitting by the windows anxiously waiting for winged visitors, they came! The woodpecker returned and the juncos brought four of their friends. In addition we were charmed with the arrival of nuthatches, chickadees, a northern cardinal, two (gluttonous) blue jays, a house sparrow, four mourning doves, a house finch and a lovely red-bellied woodpecker.

The little chickadee that visits our window feeder.

The feeding frenzy made it hard to keep track of numbers, but Chase did a great job taking down the information. The blue jays and the chickadees were brave enough to perch on our window platform and allow us to admire them up close. For about 45 minutes, the birds came and went in quick swoops and flutters. And then they were all gone. Either birds have very strict lunch schedules or a stray cats wandered into our yard, but just like that, it was all over. Today we entered the data we gathered, including temperature and precipitation information, into Cornell's website.

Chase's tally sheet for our first two count days.

We will wait five days before we count again but the excitement of watching birds continues. I have heard Chase say things like, "Wow, God is so creative!" or "I love God; He made such great birds!" I am thrilled to hear the praises burst so sincerely from his heart and have had no choice but to join in.

So God created... every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Gen. 1:21

I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. - Psalm 50:11

Praise the Lord, O my soul;all my inmost being praise His holy name. - Psalm 103:1