Don't forget about the 2010 Great Backyard Bird Count, and be part of Cornell's Citizen Science program.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's 2010 Great Backyard Bird Count is right around the corner. This year marks thirteen years in the program. Starting on Friday, February 12 and ending on Monday, February 15, 2010, the data you collect can help scientists learn more about how North American birds are doing and how to protect them. Last year, over 93,600 checklists were turned in online "creating the continent's largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded."

How do I participate?

From beginners to experts, anyone can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. You can count birds for as little as 15 minutes or as long as you'd like. You can count on all four days, or just one or two days, whatever works into your schedule. After you count your birds, just report your tallies online at: www.birdcount.org.

I'll be counting!! I'm looking forward to the time I'll spend relaxing in front of the window as I watch and count the birds. You never know what will show up!

On February 18, 2007 at 3:55, this beautiful Fox Sparrow showed up for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

It was the first time a Fox Sparrow had ever visited our back yard. I was so happy.

...five minutes later, Red popped in for a seed. I can always count on Red. We had a large flock that year.

At least 15 were sometimes together at the feeders at a time.

Lunchtime Fieldtrip Thursday: No Redpoll, No Siskin, but a Nice Fox Sparrow

I drove up to Caesar Creek Lake Visitor Center today in hopes of spotting the Common Redpoll that’s been hanging around, but he was hiding today. The park ranger told us that a Cooper’s Hawk had been scaring off the birds and the redpoll had not been seen all morning. John, a fellow birder in search of the redpoll, hoped the hawk hadn’t made an early morning snack of him! Let’s hope not!

All in all, it was a good trip though, because a big, beautiful Fox Sparrow hung around for a while. John, if you catch this post, he came back two more times after you left. We also saw a Song Sparrow, a Tree Sparrow, numerous wonderful Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, Downies, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Darke-eyed Juncos, Cardinals, Blue Jays, House and Purple finches, Chickadees, Goldfinch..all the usual suspects, but also sorely missing from our tally were the Pine Siskins. The ranger said they skipped out today also. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to go back out soon.


Beautiful and almost shockingly red berries flank the viewing room at the visitor's center.