{BIRD NOTES} ~ February 13, 2012

 

Bird Notes

 

Birds at a Higher Elevation

We have juncos, ravens, crows, goldfinches, occasional purple finch pair, tons of blue jays, fewer chickadees than usual and a dearth of woodpeckers. Just a pair of downys once in a while, and an occasional wb nuthatch.  Not a usual winter – lots of suet out too.  The Squirrel population has increased  J

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington, VT

 

More West B. Robins

We also had a flock of robins eating from the ground under our sumac.  Unfortunately one of them flew directly into our picture window and did not survive.

---Judith Myrick , West B.

 

Join the Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 17-20

Warmer temperatures and lack of snow in parts of North America are setting the stage for what could be a most intriguing 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, coming up February 17-20.

          Bird watchers across the U.S. and Canada are getting ready to tally millions of birds in the annual count coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada.

          In past counts, participants were most likely to report American Robins in areas without snow. Will more robins be seen farther north this year? Will some birds, such as Eastern Phoebes, begin their migrations earlier? And where will the “Harry Potter” owl turn up next? Snowy Owls have dazzled spectators as these Arctic birds have ventured south in unusual numbers this winter--an unpredictable occurrence that experts believe is related more to the availability of food than to weather.

          Participants count birds at any location they wish for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their tallies at www.birdcount.org. Anyone can participate in the free event, and no registration is required.

Last year, participants submitted more than 92,000 checklists with more than 11 million bird observations. These data capture a picture of how bird populations are changing across the continent year after year--a feat that would be impossible without the help of tens of thousands of participants.

          To learn more about how to join the count, get bird ID tips, downloadable instructions, a how-to video, past results, and more visit www.birdcount.org. The count also includes a photo contest and a prize drawing for participants who enter at least one bird checklist online.

---Audubon and the Cornell Lab

 

P R O G R A M   N O T E :

February 21, 7:00pm - “What’s a Roof Prism? - and Other Binocular Mysteries” - Jim Morey, former president of Swarovsky North America, revolutionized birding optics when he led a team of top birders and engineers to design a binocular specifically for birders. He will demystify how binoculars work, the differences between “high end” and “low end binoculars, what to look for when buying, and how to get the best from the binoculars you have. Jim is an experienced birder and habitat consultant and will share thoughts on Vermont wildlife habitat.  This program will be held at Brattleboro's Brooks Library and is sponsored by Southeastern Vermont Audubon Society. Admission is FREE and open to the public.

 

 Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

 

http://sevtaudubonbirdnotes.blogspot.com/