Birding

[jcolvin2]

https://www.treehugger.com/get-outside- ... nt-5219461

Get Outside for the Great Backyard Bird Count
It only takes 15 minutes out in nature.
The 25th edition of the Great Backyard Bird Count takes place Feb. 18 through 21 as researchers ask citizen scientists around the globe to help them track changes to bird populations over time.

The count is a joint project from the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Birds Canada.

To take part, people need to watch birds for 15 minutes or more at least once over the four-day period and count all the birds they see and hear during that time. The information can be entered on a computer or through an app such as eBird or the Merlin Bird ID app.1

https://ebird.org/gbbc/livesubs

My wife is participating in the backyard bird count this weekend. She even re-downloaded the Cornell app on her phone. (She had deleted it a few months back to save space.)

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

I am birding from the couch while I care for sweet, fun MIL. This is my view:

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[northland10]

This morning I have had the normal 2 pairs of house finches (one of which is looking well fed) and the group of dark-eyed juncos. Also, the female cardinal showed up. I rarely have seen a male lately.

It is a little thin today. None of the woodpeckers or nuthatches have popped in, nor have the sparrows.

[Chilidog]

Merlin (app) for identification or the Cornell bird website.

eBird (app) for finding out what's been spotted in the area you're in and for tracking what you've seen on your walks.

Binoculars are good too. If budget's a concern, I wonder if you can get them used cheap.

I would avoid used binoculars unless you can personally check them out and make sure they are not out of alignment, the lenses are not scratched, no fungus in the lens elements, etc.

[MsDaisy]

I had a red winged blackbird this morning, first one I've seen in a long time. We use to get them all the time.

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[AndyinPA]

We have three eagles' nests along two of the rivers here. The closest one to us is in its tenth year of raising eagle families. Last year, they successfully raised all three eggs. In the last two weeks, she also laid three eggs. We are off egg watch and on to hatch watch.

[northland10]

It is a little thin today. None of the woodpeckers or nuthatches have popped in, nor have the sparrows.

Spoke a day too soon. A red-bellied woodpecker spent an hour poking at a telephone pole then decided to just go for the free stuff at the feeder. Also, sparrows returned along with a bunch of starlings and a chickadee which I had not seen in a bit.

I thought I had 2 pairs of house finches but as many times as they were by yesterday, I'm thinking there are a bunch more (or they are just gluttons).

I rarely get the exotic stuff at my place.

[northland10]

I would avoid used binoculars unless you can personally check them out and make sure they are not out of alignment, the lenses are not scratched, no fungus in the lens elements, etc.

Is this meant as a suggestion if you are looking to buy, as in, do not purchase online but try them out first? I use my older small cheapy ones at home and they work okay though I would not get them now and try before buy as their small size means I have a fair amount of issues with shaking if I don't hold them just so (I have never had steady hands for some things).

[Phoenix520]

Fungus in the lens elements is a thing? How?

[Chilidog]

Fungus in the lens elements is a thing? How?

This is about camera lenses, but any optical system can get it

https://www.vintagecashcow.com/blog/tip ... s-a-guide/

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

I heard a cardinal, but otherwise didn't see a bird all weekend.

[northland10]

I heard a cardinal, but otherwise didn't see a bird all weekend.

[jcolvin2]

I heard a cardinal, but otherwise didn't see a bird all weekend.

We went to a local park on Lake Washington where my wife kayaks. We saw 14 pairs of gadwalls, about 30 mallards, four pigeons, a seagull, and what probably was a merganser.

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

Wow!!!!!

[Tiredretiredlawyer]

N10- no cardinals of that type in Camden, AR!

[Volkonski]

For the last few days there has been a quail in our backyard.

[Volkonski]

The cat keeping an eye on the quail.

[Azastan]

For the last few days there has been a quail in our backyard.

Escapee Japanese Quail?

[Estiveo]

For the last few days there has been a quail in our backyard.

Escapee Japanese Quail?

Either Scaled or Northern Bobwhite.

[Azastan]

Either Scaled or Northern Bobwhite.

I thought both of those had crests? I'm not really familiar with either one of them, since they don't occur here in WA state.

[Chilidog]

I had a blackcapped Chickadee at my feeder this weekend. That was a first. I hope I get more. I like those guys.

[insomnia]

For the last few days there has been a quail in our backyard.

This looks like a female ring neck pheasant to me. because of the tail.

[Azastan]

For the last few days there has been a quail in our backyard.

This looks like a female ring neck pheasant to me. because of the tail.

I think you might be correct!

We don't see ring-necked pheasants here on the west side of Washington (it's too wet for them), so yet another bird which I don't see often enough!

[Estiveo]

Either Scaled or Northern Bobwhite.

I thought both of those had crests? I'm not really familiar with either one of them, since they don't occur here in WA state.

The bobwhite doesn't, and I thought only the males had them in the scaled, but I've been known to be wrong.

[Azastan]

The bobwhite doesn't, and I thought only the males had them in the scaled, but I've been known to be wrong.

Are you certain that Northern Bobwhite doesn't have a crest? I thought both sexes had one (not necessarily easily seen, mind you).