Bird Watching - The Outdoor Directory for Birding

It is cold this morning with the temperature of 22 F. and clear blue skies. The frosty grass crunches under my footsteps as I walk to the bird feeders. Black Cap Chickadees accompanied by Chestnut Backed Chickadees are flying continuously back and forth. Toweehees and Juncos are standing in the flat feeders eating sunflower seeds while Fox and Song Sparrows are feeding on the ground. Deer tracks are to be seen crossing the lawn. A scolding red quirrel is perched in the birch tree. No one pays him any mind. Poets are fond of describing winter as a time of sleep and death whilst nature waits for the resurrection of Spring. I wonder about such poetic cliches as I look at all the activity in our yard this morning the last day of the year. Even if we were to travel today higher in the mountains where the snows are deepening we would see the winter tracks of the martins, squirrels and voles. We would hear the sounds of the winter birds like Gray Jays and Clarks Nutcrackers and Ravens. there is so much life all around us in all the seasons. Get out and enjoy.

Wishing you all the best in the coming New Year!
Bill @birdingguide.com

Posted by bill@birdingguide.com at 07:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

For our birding trip in Lane county Oregon the day of Christmas Eve we decided to look for a Wrentit, a regular but highly elusive bird along the west side of the Willamette Valley and into the coast range. The Wrentit hides in dense clumps of shrubs and small trees. More often heard than seen we had little hope of seeing one. Usually silent we had little hope of even hearing one. "Instead of listing all the birds we see today let's just look for wrentits. Let's focus on the brushy areas and even if there aren't any maybe we'll make lots of discoveries and have a bigger birding list at the end of the day." I suggested. Not often observed in flight the Wrentit probably cannot fly long distances. Needing dense cover for its nest and feeding on berries and insects the Wrentit never leaves its territory. A pair mates for life and their young seldom range far from where they are born. Although they are slowly expanding their range here in Oregon. Moving slowly and following every rustling sound in the coastal forest we found one little bird after another from Bewicks Wrens to Creepers, many Juncos and Towhees but never a Wrentit. Also a sleeping racoon up in tree. We surprised two elk in the brush or rather I should say they surprised us. All in all by looking for what probably wasn't there we experienced much of natures winter activity and had a most enjoyable day.

Posted by bill@birdingguide.com at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Christmas Bird Count is the largest and longest-running wilodlife survey ever taken. Its origins are in an article Frank Chapman wrote in Bird-Lore magazine in 1900 in response to the annual Christmas Day slaughter of every living that sportsman could shoot on Christmas Day. Frank Chapman wrote in 1900: "It is not many years ago that sportsmen were accustomed to meet on Christmas Day, 'choose sides' and then, as representatives of the two bands resulting, hie them to the fields and woods on the cheerful mission of killing practically everythings in fur or feathers that crossed their path....Now Bird-Lore proposes a new kind of Christmas side hunt, in the form, of a christmas bird census, and we hope that all our readers who have the oppportunity will aid us in making it a success by spinding a portion of Christmas Day with the birds and sending a report of their "hunt" to Bird-Lore.

Frank Chapman's idea took hold. These Christmas counts have provided information on the distribution of birds in the winter and have given early warning on bird species in danger. In 2004 over 56,000 people conducted 2,022 counts of birds. Most Counts these days are not done on Christmas Day itself but on a day at Christmas time. Contact your nearest Audubon Society chapter or birding club for information on the nearest Christmas Bird Count for a unique and fun way to wind up 2006 and help increase our knowledge of our feathered friends. If you feel that birding in the cold and wet of winter does not appeal to you ask "Santa" for a new parka and some winter weight fleece long johns. There is great gear available to keep you warm and cozy for winter birding. Merry Christmas!

Posted by bill@birdingguide.com at 05:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)