Great Backyard Bird Count 2011

I have been neglecting my birds this winter because of the business of life. I'm glad to report that I finally have time to relax and think about them again! They bring me such joy to watch them poking around in the snow for seed. The little juncos are so cute to watch as they kick up the snow with their feet patiently digging a hole to the grass where they can get at some seed.

I was also inspired by Barb's post about getting ready for the count and making a list of birds seen in one's yard throughout the month. The Great Backyard Bird count will be held February 18-21. Another one of my favorite parts of the bird count website is the photo contest winners from the previous year. Check it out for some great bird photos!

Anyone Need a Quill Pen?

Just look at all the feathers!

While in the kitchen cooking dinner tonight, I heard a "wham!" against the side of our house. I looked out our back sliding glass door just in time to see a shower of feathers raining down all over our backyard and porch. When the feathers cleared, I noticed a HUGE bird sitting in the yard. I was so stunned that I just kept looking at that bird, which I quickly realized must be a hawk. He had a dove in his claws and was contemplating his next move.

Two of my kids came around to the back gate and scared the hawk and his dinner up over the fence. Just like that he was gone! I could just kick myself for not grabbing my camera and trying to get a picture of what I later figured out was a red-tailed hawk! All I have left of the incident is sprinkled all over my back porch. Abby looked out and said, "Anyone need a quill pen?"

Birds: Lots of Activity This Fall

Another New Friend

As I sat out on my back porch this afternoon enjoying another summer day, I spotted an unfamiliar bird. He stayed just long enough for me to go inside and grab my camera! My bird watching friend and son helped me identify him as a ladder-backed woodpecker looking for insects. I hope he finds some next time and stays around a little longer.

Old Friends and New

This summer, we are seeing some old friends....

...and some new!

I recently posted some pictures of these little guys. We weren't sure why our house finches had yellow streaks on their wings until Grant discovered today that they are pine siskins! They are a type of finch and are almost identical to the female house finch except for the streak of yellow on their wings.

What fun to watch Grant get interested in the birds with me. He identified three new birds today that he saw in our backyard. While I cooked dinner, he read to me out of the bird ID book, and told me all about the birds he'd seen right in our own backyard. I'm glad I have a buddy to watch birds with!

Summertime Birds

We have been watching baby finches for several weeks now at our thistle feeder. They are really cute to watch, and they are not afraid of us at all. I was able to get pretty close to them to get these pictures.

We aren't quite sure why they have that streak of yellow on their sides. I'm pretty sure they are house finches which are either all brown and white, or in the case of a male, they have lots of red on them.

Spring--Turning Into Summer

The weather here in ABQ is finally warm! The grass is green and the birds are singing. I'm so thankful to God that he doesn't leave us in winter year round. We've been watching robins pull fat juicy worms out of the ground in our backyard. I'm fine with them pulling them out, but I don't appreciate it when they leave one deemed unappetizing on my back porch!

My hummers are back! I've watched them long enough now to know them by sound. As soon as I heard the little chittering sound they make, I knew they were back. Sure enough, they've been sucking down the sweet nectar for about four weeks now. If only I could get a good picture to show this little guy's beautiful green color!

All the rain and snow we had this winter paid off. Our rose bushes are blooming nicely. They didn't bloom well last year, but I'm not sure if that was due to the weather or to me finally learning how to take care of the plants in our yard.

Ahh... summer. My favorite time of the year here in ABQ!

More Signs of Spring

Robins are visiting more often! And, we can see the buds on the tree behind this one.

I love the robin's eye as well as the fact that robins don't seem to mind me outside taking a few pictures of them.

The temperature reached around 70 degrees outside today. The sun's warmth felt great!

The Bird Count is On!

We were very excited to get to count a northern flicker!

The northern flicker is a kind of woodpecker, but he does not look like what we expected a woodpecker to look like.

The best picture I got from this morning's count is this one of the house finch.

The Great Backyard Bird Count continues through Monday, Feb. 15th.

Our count so far:
1 Spotted Towhee
6 Oregon Juncos
3 House Finches
3 House Sparrows
1 White Winged Dove
1 Northern Flicker

Spotted Towhee

It never fails. Each day that I decide to throw out fresh bird seed, the spotted towhees will appear. They like the seed freshly thrown, and they are quick to grab the seed and hide in the brush again. This little brave guy spent more time than usual hunting in the leaves for seed, so I was able to snap a few pictures.

Bathing Birds

Yesterday morning we woke up to snow on the ground. By the afternoon, the warm sun had come out and melted it all. Right under our porch the melted snow collected into a pool in which a little Junco decided to take a bath. We all thought he was cute with his feathers all matted down!

Remember, the Great Backyard Bird Count and photo contest will be held next weekend!

Making Birdfeeders

Chloe and I decided to make our own bird feeders yesterday to see if we could attract birds for observation outside our front windows. We did the classic pinecone, peanut butter, roll in birdseed kind of feeders.

We tied thin jute rope to the pinecones first.

This morning, we were rewarded with juncos and house finches!

At one point, this little guy was hanging sideways on the rope and swinging away while nibbling the birdseed.

This male finch decided to take his seed to the roof and eat in peace.

Good bird pictures are difficult to take, but I like trying!

Nature Journaling Birds

We've been observing birds since December when I received a bird feeder for my birthday. My binoculars and field guide have been our best friends in our quest to identify the birds coming to our backyard.

I was brave and attempted to draw a little Junco in my nature journal, but

the kids are a little intimated by drawing birds, so I found this great coloring book of birds and printed off some of the birds that we are seeing for the kids to color, cut out, and paste in their nature journals.

Snickers likes to observe the birds too, but for a very different reason I think! Good thing for the birds that she's an indoor cat!

The Trick May Be Water

We read somewhere recently that birds have a hard time finding water in the winter. They can eat snow if they have to, but people can help the birds by putting out a little water for them. Clean feathers keep birds warmer than dirty feathers, so they need water to bathe in as well as to drink. This morning, Grant and I put out a container of water. In less than 2 minutes, we had around 7 or 8 robins fighting over the water! Until this morning, we had not been able to attract the robins to our backyard. Water did the trick! If you are trying to attract more birds to your yard, try putting out a little water. The birds will thank you!

The Birds are Lovin' It

We wondered when we put up the new feeder if the birds would like the food it had to offer.

I think they like it!

Bird Watching

Now that our holiday break is over, we are ready to resume our study of nature. We have some dark paper in our freezer all ready for catching and observing snowflakes, but wouldn't you know it---no snow in the foreseeable forecast. So, we are turning our attention to birds!

Allison got a great picture of a pelican on Galveston Island right after Christmas.

I got a great birdfeeder for my birthday, and we've been watching birds with the binoculars I received for Christmas. I decided to try and keep track of the ones we see by listing them on our calendar when we spot a new bird.

One of my favorite birds to visit us so far is the spotted towhee.

We also have lots of dark eyed juncos.

We're beginning to see some little house finches with their bright red heads and chests, but getting good pictures is a challenge!

I really like this field guide because the birds are grouped by color, so we can easily look up and find a bird we have just spotted in our backyard.

What birds are visiting your feeder this winter?

A Colorful Hummer

We've put out a hummingbird feeder for the last three summers. I've been complaining that the only hummingbirds we get here in the desert are brown just like everything else! And then, this little guy showed up with some of his friends. He has a lot of orange on him, and his throat almost glows orange when the sun hits him just right. He's a shy little thing, and it's taken me several days to get this picture. I can't quite seem to capture him at the feeder--the click of the camera scares him off.