Counting backyard birds helps scientists

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 08 October 2009 11:01

If you are an enthusiastic and observant feeder of the birds, you can help scientists track changes in bird numbers and movements from year to year.

Project FeederWatch, a citizen-science program from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, runs Nov. 14 through early April. Taking part is easy. Anyone can count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders and enter their information on the FeederWatch Web site.

Participants submitted nearly 117,000 checklists last season. Since 1987, more than 40,000 people from the United States and Canada have taken part.

“To get the most complete picture of bird movements, we always need new sets of eyes to tell us what species are showing up at backyard feeders,” says David Bonter, leader of Project FeederWatch. “Participants always tell us how much fun it is and how good it feels to contribute to our understanding of birds by submitting their sightings.”

Project FeederWatch is for people of all ages and skill levels. To learn more and to sign up, visit www.feederwatch.org or call the Cornell Lab toll-free at (866) 982-2473. For the $15 fee, participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds, a calendar, complete instructions, and Winter Bird Highlights, an annual summary of FeederWatch findings.

Roosting time

Speaking of counting birds, Nancy Faesy did some, but they weren’t exactly backyard-feeder birds.

“I just came in from watching, with three neighbors on Kellogg Drive, Wilton, 19 Turkey Vultures in the top of a dead tree. They were eerily quiet and occasionally spreading their wings in the sun. What a sight! At one point, some flew off and we counted nine vultures in the tree and 13 soaring overhead. Some of the soaring vultures had white wing tips and were not dihedral — Black Vultures? Do they soar together? I assume they live here all year round and are not migrating.”

Turkey and Black Vultures, which often roost together, are gathering hereabouts after spending the spring and summer raising families, probably mostly to the north of us. In the fall and winter, they roost in numbers that may exceed 100 birds, usually in evergreens. A longstanding roost exists along Route 35, West Lane, in Ridgefield, opposite Olmstead Lane.

The Black Vulture, a more southern species, has been moving into the area over the past decade, probably because of the warmer winters and perhaps also because the food supply is good — lots of deer carcasses, for instance. Vultures spread their wings in sun to warm up.

Nothing to count

Dorothea Whitbeck of Ridgefield reports her feeder has been devoid of birds for a couple weeks.

Disappearance of birds may be due to nearby predators, like hawks or cats, frightening them away. However, more likely, the wild birds are just feasting on the seasonal bounty of fresh wild seeds and berries, which they tend to prefer over feeder food.

Hawk watching

Helle Raheem says Bedford Audubon’s hawk count at Arthur Butler Sanctuary continues until Dec. 1. “Arthur Green or Tait Johansson are up there six days a week counting the flight of the birds of prey, and the public is always welcome to stop by.” This Nature Conservancy property is reached from I-684 to exit 4 (Route 172) west towards Mt. Kisco. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto Chestnut Ridge Road and go 1.2 miles. Turn right over bridge into parking area. However, according to the conservancy’s Web site, bow hunting to control the deer will occur on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Oct. 21 through Nov. 5, and the preserve will be closed on these days.

Coming Up

Bird Books Sale at Bylane Farm, 500 unusual ornithological titles at $5 or less, Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11, 11 to 3, Bedford Audubon’s Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Katonah, N.Y., (914)-232-1999, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , bedfordaudubon.org

Rosalie Edge: the woman who established the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, talk by author Dyana Furmansky, Sunday, Oct. 11, 3:30 p.m., $5 donation, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, RSVP This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 203-869-5272 x239, greenwich.audubon.org

Hook Mountain Hawk Watch, on the Hudson River, with Audubon Greenwich, includes half-mile uphill hike, Saturday, Oct. 17, 9 to 3, RSVP to Ted at 203-869-5272 x230.

Cove Island Park Bird Sanctuary, migrants and shorebirds in Stamford, Sunday, Oct. 18, 8 to 11 a.m., Greenwich Audubon, RSVP Brian 203-869-5272 x221.

Allen’s Meadows, migrating songbirds at Wilton hotspot, Sunday, Oct. 25, Audubon Greenwich to carpool by 8 meet the group in Wilton; RSVP required; call Brian at 203-869-5272x221.

Chestnut Ridge Hawk Watch, trip to Arthur Butler Sanctuary in Bedford, Saturday, Oct. 31, 1 to 4 p.m., meet at 1 at Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, to carpool/get directions; RSVP Ted 203-869-5272x230.

Autumn Migration Bird Walks, every Saturday, 7 to 8:45 a.m., in October, meet at Fairchild Sanctuary, North Porchuck Road in Greenwich, free, 203-869-5272 x221, greenwich.audubon.org

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, trip, Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 to 3, Audubon Greenwich, RSVP Ted 203-869-5272 at x230.

Bird Walks with Luke Tiller, to register, sunrisebirding.com/walks.htm; 203-981-9924, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

First Sundays, birding at Greenwich Point with Meredith Sampson of Wild Wings, and other guides, meet at the second concession stand, 203-637-9822.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Jack Sanders. Send sightings or comments to: jackfsanders [at sign] yahoo.com, or to Bird Notes, Box 1019, Ridgefield, CT 06877; or call 203-438-1183, extension BIRD (2473), and leave a message with your report, spelling your first and last names and telling us your town. If you need help identifying a bird, try your local nature center. If you find an injured bird, call wildlife rehabilitator Darlene Wimbrow of Redding, 203-438-0618, Wildlife in Crisis of Weston, 203-544-9913, or Wild Wings of Greenwich, 203-637-9822. The columnist’s website is www. sandersbooks. com.

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