Bird Watching on the RV Road

Missouri state park to offer winter bird-watching workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Staff Report) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:18:00 +0000

Learn more about the birds you see outside your windows at a winter bird workshop Jan. 7, 2012 at Missouri's Van Meter State Park near Miami. The workshop is sponsored by Missouri State Parks in cooperation with the Missouri River Bird Observatory and will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Dana Ripper and Ethan Duke of Missouri River Bird Observatory in Marshall will discuss the winter birds you often see at your feeders and how to identify them by their visual and vocal characteristics. They will demonstrate bird-banding by catching some birds that visit the bird feeders at the park’s cultural center. As a take-home project, you will have the opportunity to craft a “fun”ctional bird feeder by reusing a plastic drink bottle.

On your way to Van Meter State Park, stop by the Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center. From October to March, the center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The center is closed Monday through Friday.

Van Meter State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on Highway 122. Camping is available year round with both primitive and hookup sites. For more information about the event, contact the park at 660-886-7537. For more information about camping click here.

See sandhill cranes at Western Kentucky's Barren River Lake State Park

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:50:00 +0000

Whether you are a novice birdwatcher or have a life list of several hundred species, seeing hundreds of sandhill cranes lift off in a cacophony of noisy croaks or settle back into their sleeping grounds after a day of feeding in nearby fields, it is an exciting event.

Mark the weekends of January 20 - 21 and February 17 - 18 on your calendar to visit Barren River Lake State Resort Park in Western Kentucky. This is when a wildlife biologist from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife comes to talk about the thousands of sandhill cranes that visit the park at this time each year.

Registration is $30 and includes an educational session, box meal, T-shirt, and tour--either at sunrise or sunset--to see hundreds of these giant, noisy birds as they lift off or settle back into their overnight sleeping grounds. Even if you are not a birdwatcher, it is a sight to see. Call Jamie Avery at 1-800-325-0057 or email jamie.avery@ky.gov for information and to register.

The park is located at 1149 State Park Road in Lucas.

Movie about birdwatching is good fun

noreply@blogger.com (Staff Report) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:30:00 +0000

Left to right: Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson.

It's not often you come across a movie about birdwatching. But, right now, if you hurry out to your local theater, you might still be able to catch The Big Year, starring three well known Hollywood actors.

The fanatical bird-watchers (Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Jack Black) spend an entire year competing to spot the highest number of species as El Nino sends an extraordinary variety of rare breeds flying up into the U.S., but they quickly discover that there are more important things than coming out on top of the competition. Director David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada, Marley and Me) teams with screenwriter Howard Franklin to adapt author Mark Obmascik's 1998 book of the same name.

Movie critics have mostly liked the comedy, although non advises looking for it at the next Academy Awards. Here's what one bird watcher wrote after seeing it:

"This is an honest and sometimes funny look at what anyone with a hobby goes through. . . . I saw myself and what I've put my wife through at times in my pursuit of the birds and was surprised at how true to life it was portrayed. These are human beings that love birds and love being out in nature and that is what draws me out of my house to hunt these beautiful creatures with binoculars and books. If you want a nice movie that is about nature lovers that are chasing a dream and not about blowing something up or hacking someone to death then go see this movie. If you're a birding enthusiast don't be to critical of some of the glaring bird inaccuracies, just go with it."

Birdfeeders provide day-long campsite entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:12:00 +0000

Winter is a good time to add bird feeders to your campsite, providing entertainment and helping wild birds to survive.

Hang various types of bird feeders to attract a variety of birds. A platform feeder will attract certain birds and a tube feeder others.

Attract acrobatic and energetic hummingbirds with a special hummingbird feeder, and wooodpeckers, jays, and other larger birds with a suet feeder.

Oranges cut in half and stuck on the branch of a tree or bush will draw orioles. You can buy wild bird seed at most grocery stores and at pet supply and feed stores.

ou will soon have friendly birds visiting your campsite regularly providing day-long entertainment. Be sure to clean up the spill under your feeders periodically to keep from attracting rodents.

Enjoy birds in your campsite without the clean-up of your rig

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:43:00 +0000

It goes without saying that as a birdwatcher you like to watch birds, but it adds pleasure to the hobby to lure them to your campsite in addition to taking a good birding walk.

But when these invited guests start doing their natural elimination processes on your spiffy clean RV, it sometimes pushes their welcome too far.

To avoid messy clean ups from your guests' visits, try flying colorful flags or banners near those areas they like to perch.

You can find temporary flag-holders that attach to nearly any flat surface or make your own (photo). The waving and fluttering of the flags will discourage birds from using your rig and instead choose a nearby tree or bush to rest--don't worry they won't leave, your hospitality and dining options will keep them nearby.

Historic discovery: Common Murres nesting in Channel Islands National Park

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:24:00 +0000

The California common murre, a seabird last spotted in the Channel Islands nearly a century ago has hatched chicks on a rocky outpost in Channel Islands National Park last month, park officials said Tuesday.

Murres, which are far more common off the northern California coast, disappeared in 1912 from the hundred-foot-high cliffs of Prince Island, a windswept spot off San Miguel Island. But four researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Ecological Research Center spotted a murre nest on a trip to the remote island.

“This is an exciting finding--certainly a historic one,” said Josh Adams, a seabird ecologist who was part of the group.

Prince Island is home to 13 kinds of nesting seabirds, making it “one of the most important and biologically diverse nesting habitats on the West Coast of North America,” according to park spokeswoman Yvonne Menard.

Colorado State Parks offers volunteer opportunities for bird watchers

noreply@blogger.com (Staff Report) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:58:00 +0000

Colorado State Parks has two exciting volunteer opportunities for bird watching enthusiasts. Its Raptor Monitoring Program utilizes the time and skills of volunteers to monitor the activity of birds of prey on the land and in the air of Colorado's 42 state parks. Raptor monitors visit their park about every two to four weeks throughout the year, and spend one to four hours monitoring raptors on each visit. Observations are then documented electronically and used to determine the overall health of the local ecosystems.

The park system's Breeding Bird Survey Program relies on highly skilled volunteers to document bird breeding in state parks. Volunteers work closely with state parks biologists to perform point count station surveys in parks to document the best bird habitat areas, give an overview of bird breeding activity in parks, and to measure overall natural system health across park lands.

If your love of birds and the great outdoors isn't enough motivation, don't forget that after 48 hours of Colorado State Parks volunteer service you receive a complimentary annual pass. For more information, or to sign up for either of these programs, contact Stewardship Biologist Jeff Thompson at Jeff.Thompson@state.co.us.

Lady returns--for 21st time!

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Lady has again returned to her home on the banks of the Loch of the Lowes, a lake in Perthshire, Scotland last week. It is not unusual for birds, or for that matter Lady (photo), an osprey, to return to her nest every year.

What makes this particular migration--3,000 miles from West Africa--worthy of note, is that lady has returned to the same nest here in Scotland for more than two decades.

But, you might protest, we know that an osprey's life span is only about eight years. So how could that be? We know it is Lady because of a webcam (more than 130,000 people watched her the day after she arrived) that has followed her for that length of time. In fact her age is estimated to be about 26 years old.

Even more astounding is that Lady hatched two fledglings last year after making a remarkable recovery from a mystery illness. Her fight against the illness became an internet sensation after the Scottish Wildlife Trust documented the drama with the nest webcam.

This year she returned with her current mate, a young 11 year-old, that came back and settled on her nest. Most ospreys mate for life, but Lady has outlived most of her previous partners. Rangers are watching closely to see if she is still fertile this year.

Lady is expected to lay between two and four eggs this month, with chicks hatching around six weeks later. She is estimated to have raised 48 chicks at the loch in the 21 years she has been breeding there.

The Great Backyard bird count

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:57:00 +0000

The Great Backyard Bird Count (February 18-21, 2011) is a nationwide citizen science project of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada.

Participation is free and open to birdwatchers of all ages and skill levels, who can count birds in their backyard or campsite—in national parks, for example. The Natchez Trace Parkway (Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi), Fire Island National Seashore (New York), and Pipestone National Monument are participating.

The counts will be combined with data from around the United States and Canada to help analyze bird population dynamics, migration patterns, and more. The results show the locations of more than 600 bird species.

Birdwatching tips for the southern states

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:05:00 +0000

Birdwatching varies with the part of the country you happen to be camping in or traveling through. Here are some specific tips for birdwatchers traveling in the southern states.

• You can find many species of upland and deciduous forest birds in the Appalachian Mountains not seen often in other areas.
• Alabama birders have put together a booklet and guide for the Alabama Birding Trail, which covers birding spots around the state. Pick up your free copy at visitor centers throughout the state.
• Some of the best birding in the country is along the Atlantic shoreline of the southern states.
• Great blue herons, egrets, and smaller wading birds can be seen in the shallow waters of sloughs, bays, ponds, rivers, and lakes.
• In lowland saltwater and freshwater marshes, in brackish water along creeks and estuaries, and behind barrier beaches watch for marsh birds not often seen in the rest of the country, like the Tricolored Heron (photo), White Ibis, Long-Billed Dowitcher, Royal Terns, and Wood Storks.
• Visit wildlife refuges, like Harris Neck in southern Georgia, where you can see nesting Wood Storks, which seldom venture north of Florida.
• Pick up the brochure, Georgia Birding Trail, from visitor centers, an excellent guide for birdwatching around the state.

Florida is a little different, so here are specific tips for birding in Florida.

• Paddling, either by canoe or kayak, is a good way to see the birds of the lowlands of Florida. Paddle quietly, keeping paddle splash to a minimum, conversations low, and movements small.
• Many neo-tropical birds never make it any further north than Florida, and many species can be seen here that are not seen in the rest of the country.
• In lowland saltwater and freshwater marshes, in brackish water along creeks and estuaries, and behind barrier beaches watch for marsh birds, like the Louisiana Heron, Roseate Spoonbill (photo), Sandhill Cranes, and Royal Terns diving for fish.

Wings Over Willcox festival to offer birdwatching tour in Spanish

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:22:00 +0000

Of the more than 900 species of birds that live in the United States and Canada, more than half can be found in Arizona at some time during the year. Some are here year round while others breed in Arizona and then migrate south to Mexico and other areas in Latin America for the winter.

For some birds that breed in the northern United States and Canada, southern Arizona is their winter destination, and January is the perfect time to see some of these species. Sandhill Cranes, ducks, sparrows, hawks, and many more species spend the winter months here before returning to their breeding grounds in the north in the spring.

The 17th Annual Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival will offer a special Beginning Bird Watching field trip in Spanish. Whether you are a native Spanish speaker or would just like to improve your own basic Spanish skills, the tour will teach basic bird identification skills, including how to use binoculars, how to use a field guide to identify birds, and more at the Willcox ponds and nearby areas.

Tour leaders Juan Caicedo and Jennie Duberstein have many years of experience teaching about and studying birds in Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America and they will be the guides for this three hour excursion. Binoculars and Spanish field guides will be provided for use during the tour if needed. The tour is free but requires registration. For more information or to register, contact Karla: 520-284-4122 or 507-1029.

See better with image stabilizing binoculars

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:59:00 +0000

Have you ever wished for a pair of binoculars that did not leave you with a blurry image no matter what you did to correct it? Image stabilizing binoculars are quickly becoming the new standard in birdwatching Binoculars.

Many times blurry images are due to human movement and error. This can happen no matter how still or careful you are. With image stabilizing technology you can have a pair of binoculars that makes corrections automatically, adjusting for shaky hands or even the slight movement that comes from breathing.

Bird watching is a wonderful pastime that can be either relaxing or exciting and which does not require anything more than a book so that you can identify the birds you are seeing with a pair of binoculars.

One of the biggest complaints is not being able to see the birds clearly, making it difficult to determine what type of bird it is or which sub family it belongs to. Having a pair of binoculars that can provide you with a stable image will then result in spending less time correcting or attempting to correct a slightly blurred image.

This means you have a better chance of seeing the bird's features clearly and being able to recognize it before it gets away.

Learn about Arizona's migrating waterfowl

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:45:00 +0000

The Payson Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department is offering a unique seminar provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Migratory Game Bird Supervisor, Mike Rabe, on waterfowl natural history and identification.

The class will include a slideshow and presentation, followed by identification of waterfowl in Green Valley Park. Participants should bring binoculars if they have them, but extras will be available.

Space is limited, so register today. Registration is open through Jan. 12, 2010, the class is from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19. It is open to all ages. The fee is $5 per person.

BLM offers free guided bald eagle hikes

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Bald eagles migrate annually to the Cache Creek Natural Area in Northern California's Lake County each October, where the raptors stay until mid-April. To celebrate the majestic birds return to the area, the Bureau of Land Management is hosting free guided hikes to view the wintering bald eagles on most Saturdays in January and February. The walks will take place at 10 a.m. on Jan. 16, 23 and 30, and Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27.

Those interested in participating should contact the BLM Ukiah Field Office at (707) 468-4000 to reserve a spot for a specific date. Early reservations are recommended as each trek is limited to 25 people and space fills up quickly.

The four-mile hike takes about three to four hours and does include a steep, 600-foot climb in the first mile. Participants should wear sturdy hiking boots and dress for cold weather. They should also bring binoculars (most eagle sightings are from a distance), water, and lunch, as none will be provided. Hikes will be canceled if it is raining.

Zion National Park looking for volunteer birdwatchers

noreply@blogger.com (Staff Report) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Zion National Park is looking for volunteers to participate in its Christmas Bird Count on December 19. The more the volunteers know about birds the better. The count area is 15 miles in diameter (about 177 square miles). In the 2008 count, 5,474 individuals of 85 bird species were counted in Zion and vicinity. Information is passed along to the National Audubon Society.

To volunteer or to find out more information, contact Claire Crow at 435-772-0212 or claire_crow@nps.gov. The park is in Southern Utah, about 2.5 hours drive from Las Vegas.

Wind Cave National Park Christmas bird count Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:05:00 +0000

South Dakota's Wind Cave National Park will host its annual Christmas Bird Count on Sunday, December 13.

The event, like many others throughout the National Park System, is patterned after the National Audubon Society’s effort to document trends in wintering bird life throughout the United States. The count area will include all of Wind Cave National Park and areas of the Black Hills National Forest and Custer State Park.

“This annual activity helps us document winter bird life in the park and surrounding area,” said Wind Cave Superintendent Vidal Davila. “Information from the count is added to the park’s bird database and provided to the South Dakota Ornithological Union.”

People wishing to participate should meet at the park visitor center at 8 a.m. Participants are asked to dress warmly, bring a lunch, field guides and binoculars, something to share for dinner and a place setting. Participants will return to the park’s VIP Center at 4:15 p.m. to compile results and share in a potluck dinner. For more information, contact Barb Muenchau or Dan Roddy at (605) 745-4600.

Squirrel Buster Plus frustrates squirrels away from feeders

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:42:00 +0000

If you've had a problem with squirrels raiding your bird feeders, the Squirrel Buster Plus will shut out these pesky thieves. Guaranteed squirrel and large bird proof against red and gray squirrels, as well as grackles, starlings, doves, etc.

Dishwasher safe design easily cleans to maintain a safe and healthy feeder that is built to take the attempts of frustrated squirrels. Made of ABS and polycarbonate resins, it is rust-proof and has powder-coated aluminum and stainless steel components.

Openings in the bottom section of the feeder (shroud) align with seed ports, providing birds access to the seed. When a squirrel climbs onto the feeder, its weight automatically forces the shroud down, closing the seed ports. Squirrels and large birds are foiled but not harmed in any way. You can use a variety of bird seed such as cracked corn, mixed seed, peanut bits, safflower seed, sunflower kernels and sunflower seed. The feeder can be hung from trees or hooks and has a three quart seed capacity.

The Squirrel Buster Plus is available on various Birding Web sites and at Amazon.com.

Birding season on the Washington Birding Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:11:00 +0000

By Bob Difley

Potlatch State Park is Site 47 from the "Olympic Loop" of Audubon Washington's Great Washington State Birding Trail. The park, off Highway 101 (at milepost 335.1) on the Hood Canal south of Hoodsport in Mason County, is a 57-acre park with Hood Canal saltwater shoreline and mixed forest.

And this is the best season for birding, from now through Spring, especially during high tide which is the best for viewing waterfowl. Expect to see common loons, surf scoters, greater scaups, common and Barrow's goldeneyes, buffleheads, red-breasted mergansers; horned, western, and red-necked grebes. Check foliage for red crossbills, varied thrushes, Steller's jays, fox sparrows, and band-tailed pigeons.

Find out more here.

Birding explodes in the UK

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:38:00 +0000

"For the news is that on the quiet there has been a birdwatching revolution. A recent survey by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) spells it out: six million Britons now enjoy birdwatching every couple of weeks. And membership of the RSPB now exceeds one million (a figure that has doubled within a decade).

"Graham Madge, of the RSPB, reports that this spring, there was a 20% increase of visitors to the UK's reserves compared with last year. It appears that more women are birdwatching and that dowdy is no longer the name of the game. Unlikely fans abound: Mick Jagger, Van Morrison, Joanna Lumley, Daryl Hannah and Cameron Diaz – the list is long.

"At the same time – and it can be no accident – a flock of exceptional bird books is being published this autumn, each so remarkable that it's likely to have a whole new audience reaching for the binoculars."

Read more of this article on birding written by England's Observer. Seems it is becoming very popular across the pond.

Choosing a bird book

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Most of us birdwatchers own several birding guides, both national and regional. The most common division for regional guides are the Western and the Eastern versions. Some publishers also print separate Texas and Florida guides. Books vary also on their format, with some using photographs and others using drawings.

Though most birders have a preference, both types can prove valuable for identification and should be on the birders bookshelf. The advantage of photos is that the photo is a more accurate version of what you will actually see when out birding. However, drawings will show more detail in the bird's coloring, markings, and other features that you may not see in the wild, and may give you clues of what to look for. Using both guides is often helpful in making an identification.

The Sibley Guide to Birds along with the Eastern and Western regional guides by David Allen Sibley are among the best in the drawing category. All birds were drawn by Sibley. The Field Guide to Birds of North America by the National Wildlife Federation (and available in RVbookstore.com) is in the photographic version and has more than 2,000 images taken by leading nature photographers showing birds in their natural habitat.

Whichever book or books you choose, make sure it contains the following features:

Shows birds in all plumages, in all its seasonal changes.
Gives size measurements of bird and its wingspan.
Shows birds in flight, illustrating the wing patterns and colors to look for.
Shows seasonal range and migratory routes for each bird.
Discusses or shows similar birds that could result in mistaken identities, and tells how to differentiate between them.
Describes the bird's various voice sounds: mating calls, singing, warning, etc.
Describes bird's usual habitat, feeding patterns, and behavior.

When you travel through a new area, check with visitor centers or chambers of commerce for regional birding guides, a checklist of regional birds by season, and for the locations of noteworthy birding locations and birding trails.

Eagle Watch Weekends at Kentucky State Parks

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:12:00 +0000

Kentucky State Parks has been conducting eagle watch tours for forty years, and will offer the same popular programs in four state parks this season. The tours take place at four Kentucky resort parks during weekends in January and February on an excursion yacht, barges, pontoon boats, and by van, depending upon the location and tour. They are led by state park naturalists and Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists.

Ticket prices for the tours range from $20 to $55 a person. Most tours last between two and three and one half hours. The weekends also include an evening program on birds of prey.

The parks, phone numbers and dates for the Eagle Watch Weekends are:

* Dale Hollow State Resort Park (800-325-2282): Jan. 15-16; Jan. 22-23; Feb. 5-6.

* Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park (800-325-0146): Jan. 15-17.

* Lake Barkley State Resort Park (800-325-1708): Jan. 29-31.

* Kenlake State Resort Park (800-325-0143): Feb. 5-7.

Read more about viewing bald eagles on Kentucky's Eagle Watch weekends here.

Cae May Point: Raptor Capital of North America

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:01:00 +0000

Now through the end of November is the height of birdwatching season on the Atlantic Flyway route of migratory birds that goes right over New Jersey's Cape May State Park. The bird-viewing deck along the dunes near the lighthouse at Cape May Point is one of the best spots in North America to see migratory birds. More than 60,000 birds of prey migrate the Atlantic Flyway each autumn.

The spacious park at Cape May Point is called the Raptor Capital of North America because of its bird-watching reputation.

One of the reasons Cape May State Park is so renowned for birdwatching is because many of the birds hover above the park before flying over the large body of water between Cape May and Delaware. On a promising birdwatching day at the park -- after a cold front and with clear skies -- there will already be a dozen birders with cameras and binoculars at the ready before sunrise.

Beginner bird watchers and enthusiasts are invited to Beginning Birding for Adults, every third Saturday of the month at Palmyra Cove Nature Park, where participants learn how to spot the different species of birds while exploring the cove's 250 acres of woodlands and tidal wetlands.
Classes are from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Cost $10 per person. Read more about hawks at Cape May here.

Whooping cranes in trouble

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:43:00 +0000

A predicted 247 endangered whooping cranes will descend on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas this year, down from the 270 that arrived last year. This will be the first decline in seven years for this population of 5 ½ foot tall white birds, which is the only naturally occurring crane population in the world.

This decline, in fact, any decline in population is of concern to wildlife specialists. The flock population, which usually grows by half a dozen every year, fell in South Texas last winter as the result of food and freshwater shortages brought on by the extended drought.

This year whoopers hatched only 52 chicks in Canada — a six-year low — and only 22 survived. The youngsters won't be counted as part of the overall population until they make it to the refuge for the first time. The arriving whoopers willthen likely face the prospect of a shortage of food supplies in Aransas again this year. Their prime food sources — blue crabs and wolfberries — have yet to rebound from the drought, which may cause some whoopers to starve.

Read more on the plight of the whooping cranes here.

Project FeederWatch

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:47:00 +0000

Birdwatchers can now turn their passion into meaningful research through Project FeederWatch bird count. Facilitated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the project involves volunteers across the nation helping scientists monitor bird life in North America. The final result is a comprehensive report and publication.

The great public bird count is scheduled for November through April each year. Those wanting to take part in a given year must enroll by the end of February. The task involves making a tally of the total birds seen at a specific point at a given time. This method prevents duplicate counting and avoids constant monitoring of the count area.

The cost of participation is $15 which covers most of the project’s costs. In addition, all participants receive a kit containing a poster for identifying birds, a wall calendar, a guide to proper bird feeding, a form for counting, and directions for using these items. U.S. residents are also given an annual subscription to the Lab of Ornithology’s newsletter.

Data collected is featured in science publications and frequently used by ornithologists and birdwatchers throughout North America. The count provides a real opportunity to contribute to the well-being and research of birds that share our habitat. Another benefit is finding previously unknown birds in the neighborhood.

Anyone can take part in the bird count,which in the past has included retirees, youth groups, nature centers, schools, and birding clubs. The amount of time spent counting birds is up to the participant. The FeederWatch organizers provide multiple scenarios for both days and hours invested. As the strategy is to count the birds present at a given point in time, those with little free time on their hands can still provide accurate information. The location for counting can vary though it must be consistent. An area with a bird feeder or birdhouse can be ideal, though any bird-friendly location will suffice.

Project FeederWatch is a win-win for those with a love of birdwatching. One can admire them while providing a meaningful contribution to their well-being. To read more about Project FeederWatch, visit the FeederWatch Web site.

Birdwatching in . . . Rwanda?

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Difley) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:23:00 +0000

You may be more likely to associate the African nation of Rwanda with abject poverty than birdwatching, but the nation is this week participating in the World Travel Market 2009 (WTM), the premier global event for the travel industry held in London from November 9 to 12.

This year Rwanda is showcasing what they describe as the vast opportunities and new experiences available to tourists (that are expected to exceed 780,000 visitors!), one of which is a new canopy walk in Nyungwe forest--which, at its completion scheduled for January 2010, will be the first of its kind in the region. It will provide a unique view of the forest and offer an unusual tree canopy birdwatching experience. Who knew?