Wed
Feb 14 2007
10:57 am
Great Backyard Bird Count 2007
By: R. Neal

Eastern Meadowlark spotted in our back yard during last year's GBBCThe Great Backyard Bird Count starts this Friday, Feb. 16th and goes through Monday, Feb. 19th.

What it is:

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.

Why do it:

Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.

What to do:

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes during February 16–19, 2007. Count birds at as many places and on as many days as you like—just keep a separate list of counts for each day and/or location.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time, and write it down.

3. Enter your results on the Great Backyard Bird Count web site!

Follow the above links for more info. It's a great educational outdoors/nature activity for the kids and fun for the entire family.

Here are the statistics from last year's GBBC:

Total Checklists Submitted: 60,503
Total Species Observed: 622
Total Individual Birds Counted: 7,594,742

Among Tennessee reporting localities for 2006, the Knoxville area topped the list with 81 species and 161 reports, which was more than double the nearest location (Nashville) with 78 reports.

You can view all the results from last year's count here. When the count gets underway, post yours in comments here!

Topics:
R. Neal's picture

Business was slow

Submitted by R. Neal on Fri, 2007/02/16 - 6:11pm.

Business was slow today:

11:30 - 12:15 Sunny and clear, 30 degrees
Starlings: 2
Gold Finches: 5
House Finches: 1
Doves: 2
Juncos: 2
Chickadees: 1
Robins: 1
House Sparrows: 1

3:30 - 4:00 Maxey's Park, 35 and clear

Seagulls: 30-40
Mallard Ducks: 6-8
Unidentified Ducks: 15-20 (three different kinds)
Canadian Geese: too many to count

4:45 - 5:00 Sunny and clear, 35 degrees
Starlings: 4
House Finches: 2
Doves: 5
Juncos: 3
House Sparrows: 1

Earlier in the morning before I started keeping score I saw an Eastern Bluebird and five or six house finches. One of the House Finches I saw at 5:00 may have been a Purple Finch. He was reallly bright red and it covered more of his body.

WhitesCreek's picture

a quick count in hominy snow

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 9:42am.

A downy woodpecker waited patiently for me to refill the suet feeder. She was on it seconds after I turned my back.

Downy woodpecker 3
red bellied wood pecker 1
pileated woodpecker 2
Nuthatch 2
chickadee 8-10
goldfinch 18-20
titmouse 5
junco 12+
crow too many
eagle 1 adult 1 juvenile
red tail hawk 1
mourning dove 4
carolina wren 2

Amongst the finches is what I think is a siskin and I have a damfino or two. They need to hold still for me. The big birds aren't flying through the gorge with the snow. We have a half dozen or so wintering eagles but they either came by early or more likely are just hanging out upstream. I wonder if their normally super acute vision is a handicap in fog, mist, and snow?
Steve

R. Neal's picture

Sat. Feb. 17, 11:00 AM -

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 2:00pm.

Sat. Feb. 17, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM various times, cloudy, snow flurries

Starlings: 3
Gold Finches: 10
House Finches: 9
Doves: 8
Juncos: 4
Chickadees: 1
Robins: 1
House Sparrows: 1
Bluebird: 1

WhitesCreek's picture

still got the usual

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 2:15pm.

still got the usual suspects...why don't I have a bluebird yet?

I can add this one:

wild turkey 20+

Tamara Shepherd's picture

Love 'em!

Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 3:15pm.

You, too? Oh, I love 'em out here on Beaver Ridge!

In the warmer months, I like to start my mornings outside sweeping porches and patios, just waitin' for a glimpse.

'Course, when they arrive, work stops and there's nothing to be done except to plop down in a chair and lose twenty minutes in a Turkey Revery...

redmondkr's picture

There are about half a dozen

Submitted by redmondkr on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 3:59pm.

There are about half a dozen wild turkeys here at the Cheneworth Gap in Beaver Ridge. Often I don't see them in the back yard but hear them in the woods. We keep a little cracked corn nearby for them.

Come See Us at

The Hill Online

Andy Axel's picture

Locality: Nashville,

Submitted by Andy Axel on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 4:50pm.

Locality: Nashville, Davidson County, TN
Observation Date: FEB 17, 2007

Start Time: 11:00 AM
Total Birding Time: 30 minutes
Party Size: 2
Skill: excellent
Weather: good

Habitat(s):
coniferous woods
grassland
suburban
freshwater

Number of Species: 12

All Reported: yes

Checklist:

Blue Jay - 2
American Crow - 1
Carolina Chickadee - 2
Tufted Titmouse - 2
Carolina Wren - 1
American Robin - 9
European Starling - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 3
Dark-eyed Junco - 3
Northern Cardinal - 4
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1
American Goldfinch - 2

____________________________

Recursive blogwhore.

bizgrrl's picture

2:45 - 3:15 Maxey's Park, 37

Submitted by bizgrrl on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 5:56pm.

2:45 - 3:15 Maxey's Park, 37 and ice/snow

Great Blue Herons - 7
Bufflehead - 12
Lesser scaup - 4
Mallards - 20
Canadian Geese - 18
Seagulls - 50
Crows - 30 +

R. Neal's picture

Photos for Bizgrrls

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 6:22pm.

Photos from Bizgrrls report:


Lesser Scaups (we think)


Buffleheads (we think)


Seagulls

Andy Axel's picture

Ring-billed gulls

Submitted by Andy Axel on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 6:48pm.

Aren't those ring-billed gulls? (There's about a dozen or more different species of gull but I think the ring-billed is about the most common locally.)

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Recursive blogwhore.

R. Neal's picture

Aren't those ring-billed

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 6:53pm.

Aren't those ring-billed gulls?

Beats me, I'll have to look them up. It's funny, I don't remember seeing many (any?) gulls around here when I was growing up and before moving to FL in 83. Or herons. After moving back, though, it seems like they're all over the place.

Socialist With A Gold Card's picture

Randy, I also don't remember

Submitted by Socialist With ... on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 8:53pm.

Randy, I also don't remember seeing either gulls or herons around here prior to about 15 years ago. I've heard several times the anecdote that they were blown inland due to either Hurricane Hugo (1989) or Hurricane Andrew (1992), depending on the teller of the story. I don't know if it's a realistic explanation, but the timeframe sounds about right.

My contribution:

Time: 2:00 PM today, about 35° and snowing

Location: At the confluence of Turkey Creek and Fort Loudon Lake (from the toasty warm comfort of the living room)

Ring-billed gulls: 42 (!)
Great blue heron: 2

For some odd reason, I didn't see any starlings or cardinals; usually, they're everywhere that time of day.

--Socialist With A Gold Card

"I'm a socialist with a gold card. I firmly believe we need a revolution; I'm just concerned that I won't be able to get good moisturizer afterwards." -- Brett Butler

Tess's picture

I must have all the

Submitted by Tess on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 6:30pm.

I must have all the cardinals and blue jays.

Tons.

But, I feed the black oiled sunflower seeds.

A few Carolina wrens. A few sparrows and such.

Haven't seen much of my red bellied woodpeckers lately. I miss them--lots of personality. Can't say that I've seen too many woodpeckers in general this year.

R. Neal's picture

Tess, take 15 minutes when

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 6:58pm.

Tess, take 15 minutes when there's lots of activity and count how many you see of each species (the highest number of each that you see at any one time) and post them to the GBBC website. See instructions and links above...

Tess's picture

Okay. Will do. Big dog and

Submitted by Tess on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 9:10pm.

Okay. Will do. Big dog and I take a pail of seed down the hill every morning and evening. I will watch and count tomorrow.

R. Neal's picture

Just checked, and it looks

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 6:56pm.

Just checked, and it looks like ring-billed gull is all they could possibly be. Thanks.

Andy Axel's picture

No problem. Hey, I've got my

Submitted by Andy Axel on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 7:01pm.

No problem.

Hey, I've got my Sibley guide here, and I'm looking at the lesser scaup on one plate and the greater on the page opposite. It says that the head is how you differentiate them, but for the life of me, I can't tell from your picture.

(I love me some buffleheads, too. shooooop! Diving ducks rule.)

____________________________

Recursive blogwhore.

WhitesCreek's picture

The greater scaup is an

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 7:12pm.

The greater scaup is an absolutely goofy looking bird that should trip over its own face. These look to be the lesser.

R. Neal's picture

Yeah, we debated. One photo

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 7:15pm.

Yeah, we debated. One photo shows the male scaup with a slightly green tint. But it was so dreary and it was snowing, and they were far away out of range (excuses, excuses) so I didn't get any really good, definitive photos.

The other clue in the Peterson book is the shape of the head, and in most of the photos this one has a flatter head v. the more pointy head of the greater. There is one photo where his head looks a little pointy, but it's hard to tell. They looked larger than the mallards, if that helps.

We decided they are lesser, just because they are common in the region.

WhitesCreek's picture

The green tint is a

Submitted by WhitesCreek on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 7:31pm.

The green tint is a refractory color and may not show on dull days. Even the shape of the head can be obscured in cold weather because of fluffing the feathers for warmth. While a side view of the male's head would help but that female is pretty definitive. On the greater, the lady has a light patch behind the eye that is definitely absent on your two friends. They are beauties, whichever they are.

This was a fun day to look out and wish I had my spotting scope back from the folks I've loaned it to. I forget how much fun birding is. Now for a question...

The Barred owls are getting rowdy in the woods. Does it count if you can't see them?

R. Neal's picture

Pretty impressive list

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 7:16pm.

Pretty impressive GBBC list here so far:

Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
American Crow
American Robin
European Starling
Brown-headed Cowbird
White-throated Sparrow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Dark-eyed Junco
American Goldfinch
Nuthatch
Rufous-sided Towhee
Eastern Meadolark
Carolina Wren
House Sparrow
House Finch
Eastern Bluebird
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Red Headed Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eagle
Red Tail Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Wild Turkey
Great Blue Heron
Bufflehead
Lesser Scaup
Mallard
Canadian Geese
Ring-billed Gull

Andy Axel's picture

...Nuthatch... White or

Submitted by Andy Axel on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 7:31pm.

...Nuthatch...

White or red-breasted? (I think this was one of Whitescreek's spots.)

I used to see both on my property, but have seen nary a one in the last three years here.

Oh, and add red-shouldered hawk (from yesterday) and eastern meadowlark. I didn't put down my Friday list here.

And a proxy spot from my wife's aunt, who booked a red-headed woodpecker in her life list and GBBC list.

____________________________

Recursive blogwhore.

R. Neal's picture

Andy: updates added. Steve:

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 7:38pm.

Andy: updates added.

Steve: thanks for the info. Based on everything so far, we will go with the consensus of lesser. This handsome fellow was accompanied by three lovely females, thus our count of four.

S Carpenter's picture

From Old North Knoxville - Backyard Count

Submitted by S Carpenter on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 8:25pm.

February 17, 2007 2:00 p.m.
Temp: 32 Light Snow

Blue Jay 2
Northern Cardinal 6
Carolina Chickadee 1
Dove 5
White-throated Sparrow 4
Rufous sided Towhee 1
Tufted Titmouse 4

R. Neal's picture

Thanks, Scott. I added

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 8:25pm.

Thanks, Scott. I added Towhee to the list.

R. Neal's picture

More photos from Bizgrrl's

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2007/02/17 - 8:21pm.

More photos from Bizgrrl's report:


Full frame of the crappy photo the lesser scaup image was cropped from. This was taken with a 400mm lens, so that gives you an idea of how far away they were, and how hard it is sometimes to eke something recognizable from a crappy photo.


Another crappy photo of the herons trying to get out of the wind and snow (or maybe get away from all the gulls and geese and ducks that invaded their space?) in the back of the cove, shot through the structures of the new boat docks at Maxeys. There were seven of them along the bank back there.


Closeup/crop of a couple of the herons fluffing up to keep warm. That stuff in the foreground is ice/snow, not camera noise.

We've never seen so many different kinds of water/shore birds at one time at this spot before.

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