Busy with the Annual Appeal (you can donate! Still! Online, even!) so a little late getting this post up. Also, we weren’t in front of the usual (big) window (with our note board) as often as we usually are. At any rate, here are our noticed-in-November birds. Continue reading “Through the Window: November 2013”
Through the Window: October 2013 with Big Sitters Helping
Nice weather this month. Our list is a bit longer and more amazing ’cause we had some dedicated sitting observers. Admittedly, they were actually on the other side of the window from our usual watching spot. Should we count that as “through the window”? Hmmm. Anyway, if you don’t know about the Big Sit!, go check it out, then come back (We’ll wait).
OK, here’s the combined list: Continue reading “Through the Window: October 2013 with Big Sitters Helping”
Through the Window: September 2013 settles down
The gulch widened this month, and one of our logger neighbors helped remove fallen trees. This does allow us to observe the birds flying across it more easily… although we’re not fond of the erosion, particularly (you probably already know about our flood and have already donated to help us bridge this gap…). Continue reading “Through the Window: September 2013 settles down”
Through the Window: August 2013
Some nice birds this month! You probably already know about our flood; the birds don’t seem to much care. Good for them! Continue reading “Through the Window: August 2013”
Through the Window: July 2013 (In Which Birds Ignore Floods)
Some nice birds this month! You probably already know about our flood; the birds don’t seem to much care. Good for them! Continue reading “Through the Window: July 2013 (In Which Birds Ignore Floods)”
Through the Window: June 2013 with length
Happy summer. Goodness what a lot of rain this year. Saw some birds anyway. Bold ones are those we didn’t see last month!
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Common Yellowthroat
- Blue Jay
- Hair Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Common Grackle
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Northern Oriole (Ed. note: this is an old name for Baltimore Oriole; it hybridizes with the Bullock’s in some places in its range, and for a time, both species were called Northern Oriole. See http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/baltimore_oriole/lifehistory)
- Starling
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Mourning Dove
- Northern Cardinal
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Wild Turkey
- American Goldfinch
- Song Sparrow
- Tufted Titmouse
- Purple Finch
- American Crow (3 on 6/11)
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Cooper’s Hawk
- Evening Grosbeak
- Indigo Bunting
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: May 2013 gets exciting
Nesting time! And the list grows on. Bold ones are those we didn’t see last month!
- Northern Cardinal
- American Goldfinch
- White-throated Sparrow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Mourning Dove
- Common Grackle
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Hairy Woodpecker
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Eastern Phoebe
- Blue Jay
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Evening Grosbeak
- Song Sparrow
- Dark-eyed Junco
- American Robin
- Purple Finch
- Northern Goshawk
- Wild Turkey (One male, 3 females on 5/15)
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- White-crowned Sparrow (5/6/13, 5/18/13)
- Winter Wren (heard)
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (5/8/13)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch (5/12/13)
- American Crow
- Great-Crested Flycatcher (5/15/13)
- Gray Catbird (5/17/13)
- Cooper’s Hawk (5/20/13)
- Baltimore Oriole
- Tufted Titmouse
If you want to get involved with NestWatch, let us know how we can help you!
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: April 2013 explosion (of species seen)
“Spring has sprung, tra-la-la-la-la / Spring has sprung!” — the Swing Peepers
Look at these lists! Spring is amazing. All of these in the first list were seen April 1st (and generally also later in the month). Bold ones are those we didn’t see last month!
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Downy Woodpecker
- Common Grackle
- Blue Jay
- Fox Sparrow (four on 4/9, 4/20)
- Tufted Titmouse
- American Crow
- Northern Cardinal
- White-breasted Nuthatch
Then we saw…
- Common Redpoll (4/6, 4/24)
- American Robin
- Tree Sparrow
- Mourning Dove
- Cooper’s Hawk (4/3, 4/15)
- Song Sparrow
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (First of Year 4/9)
- Northern Goshawk (4/13)
- Evening Grosbeak (the female with the healed-but-dropping wing, and returnees)
- Brown-headed Cowbird (4/18 and later)
- White-throated Sparrow
- American Goldfinch
- Wild Turkey
- Eastern Phoebe
- Northern Flicker (4/23)
In the Little Pond (we have this as bird bath/water source, among other reasons):
- Wood Frogs (20 frogs all at once on 4/15! then tadpoles 4/30)
- Spotted Salamander egg masses (~4/17)
Mammals included the mink, a cottontail rabbit, red and gray squirrels, and the eastern chipmunk.
At the Big Pond (across the road and up through the meadow, then into the forest):
- A pair of mallard ducks (4/15)
- Wood ducks (~4/20)
If you want to get involved with NestWatch, let us know how we can help you!
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: March 2013 migrants and an unexpected mammal
It’s spring! Really! What do you mean, it’s snowing again? Of course it is! It does that in spring!
Anyway, back before the spring equinox we watched some birds. And then we did it again after, too. Of course. It’s wonderful what you see when you just sti still and look.
- Black-capped Chickadees
- Hairy Woodpeckers (males chasing each other 3/3)
- Downy Woodpeckers
- American Crow
- Blue Jay
- Mourning Dove
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Common Redpoll (flock of about 15 on 3/26)
- Common Grackle (3/15)
- Red-winged Blackbird (3/18 and later)
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Wild Turkey (3/24)
- Tufted Titmouse
- Northern Goshawk (3/30)
The female Evening Grosbeak was also seen, across the road in the tress, on March 30.
Of course we had some red and gray squirrels. We noticed an Eastern Chipmunk crossing the road on March 26.
To our great surprise (and some delight) we saw a weasel on March 30 and 31. It’s hard to tell the long-tailed and short-tailed weasels apart sometimes, but we think we saw a short-tailed weasel (ermine). It was still in its full winter coat: white with a black tip to its tails. It seemed to be stalking the squirrels, and its presence would go a long way towards explaining why fewer mice were in the bird seed closet traps this winter!
We’re looking forward to NestWatch coming up soon (exactly when depends on where you are; they have a spiffy new website too)
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.
Through the Window: February 2013 with Bird Counts
Several boards to combine for today’s post: the usual white board, the Feedwatch tally sheet, and the Great Backyard Bird Count board!
- Black-capped Chickadees (10 seen at the GBBC)
- Hairy Woodpeckers (male and female; also 2 seen at the GBBC)
- Downy Woodpeckers (male and female; also2 seen at the GBBC)
- Common Redpoll (31 seen at the GBBC)
- Dark-eyed Junco (1 seen at the GBBC)
- Common Redpoll (31 seen at the GBBC)
- Blue Jay (1 seen at the GBBC)
- Mourning Dove (18 seen at the GBBC)
- White-breasted Nuthatch (1 seen at the GBBC)
- Tufted Titmouse (2 seen at the GBBC)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch (1 seen at the GBBC)
- Evening Grosbeak (female with the injured wing, seen at least twice, including 2/27/13 up on the platform feeder)
- American Crow (1 seen at the GBBC)
- Common Raven (1 seen at the GBBC)
- Brown Creeper (on a yellow birch near the feeder area)
Of course we had some red and gray squirrels!
Project Feederwatch started November 10th. We usually do our observations at lunch, and thos species are included in the list above. This is a great project to do with kids. The Great Backyard Bird Count is another beginner-friendly (and expert-friendly!) citizen science project. This a short-term project (4 days), rather than a multi-month one. We’re looking forward to NestWatch coming up soon (exactly when depends on where you are; they have a spiffy new website too)
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 to make it more difficult for birds to see the watchers. We have chairs and binoculars to try there, a white board, and many identification guides. Outdoors, several feeders are attached on a single, bear-resistant pole. A small pond, flowers and water plants, shrubs and trees add cover and other food choices. You can sometimes see what we see via our webcam.