We like to hunker down in January a bit, watching the birds from the relative quiet of our offices.
However, it’s possible we get distracted from writing reports and making new library displays and planning the next art show and saying thanks to members and donors and finding out about bird codes and…
What we saw…
- Blue Jay
- Tufted Titmouse
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Downy Woodpecker
- Mourning Dove
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Wild Turkey (January 2, 2022)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Northern Cardinal
- Cooper’s Hawk (1/5/2022: flushed all the MODOs, perched near the cedars, then treehouse railing, then away)
- American Goldfinch
- American Robin
Bird Codes
Wait, what’s a MODO? It’s a Mourning Dove! Developed originally for use in while banding birds, these short four-letter codes can occasionally be easier or convenient to use. Find out more at:
- a brief discussion of banding code history and usage (and the codes too) at https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/bandcodes.html,
- the list used by the Bird Banding Laboratory at https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/manual/speclist.cfm, and
- a description and list of both four- and six-letter codes at https://www.birdpop.org/pages/birdSpeciesCodes.php (six-letter codes are based on the scientific names of birds, not the common names).
Notes
(Bold items in this list are those species not recorded in December 2021.)
Gray Squirrel, Red Squirrel
Care to join us during the winter? Call to schedule your visit, or attend one of our upcoming events. See you soon!
Volunteers, we always have opportunities for you!
If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram, you’ll find us talking about bird news, sharing photos, suggesting events, and more. Check us out!
The “Through the Window” series is an informal record of observations made by staff, volunteers, and visitors. Anyone at the Museum may add to this list. Observations are usually through our viewing window: a large window with a film covering that helps hide watchers from the birds. We have chairs and binoculars to try, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, 8′ steel pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and (seasonally) other food choices . You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.