Count the Rings

I've tallied up my totals for the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count, and the winners are...

• Canada Goose: 4
• Mallard: 43
• Common Goldeneye: 2
• American Coot: 29
• Northern Flicker: 1
• Black Billed Magpie: 4
• Black Capped Chickadee: 2
• Spotted Towhee: 1
• House Finch: 16
• Pine Siskin: 58
• American Goldfinch: 16
• House Sparrow: 3
• Lesser Goldfinch: 4
• American Wigeon: 1

Altogether, the total is 184 birds representing 14 different species found during four separate counts in three unique locations. I'm thrilled with the results, and it is fascinating to see the changes in some birding populations; pine siskins, in particular, are much more populous this year than last.

Ironically, on the final day of the count -- the one day when I did not submit a checklist -- I added a new bird to my life list, the ring billed gull. During a casual stroll through Liberty Park in Salt Lake City, I was idly watching the mallards, Canada geese, and gulls that I'd mistakenly assumed were California gulls, Utah's state bird. After a closer look, however, I realized that their legs were yellow rather than a pale gray blue, which is the coloration of California gulls' winter plumage. A closer observation revealed a few other details, and the ring billed gull flew onto my list.

You never know when you might find a new bird, or where. An area you regularly visit may suddenly be attractive to a passing migrant, or you may discover that a previous identification was in error. Just as the Great Backyard Bird Count encourages birders to reevaluate their local bird populations annually, we can all benefit from keeping vigilant about the birds we see every day. You never know when their identities, populations, or behavior might surprise you.

Get Your Count On

The 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count has begun! This afternoon, just keeping a watchful eye on my feeders, I recorded 35 visitors in only twenty minutes; American goldfinches, house finches, pine siskins, and a pair of somewhat lonely house sparrows. The count continues through Monday (February 16), and participants can submit as many different checklists as they need to record the birds they see in different areas and at different times. When you record birds, there are other observations you will need to make for an accurate report, including:

• Time and length of observation
• Number of participants counting
• Snow depth (if applicable)
• Location type
• Habitat type

You enter your geographic location by zip code or city and state, and that generates an easy to fill in list of species in the area, grouped by type of bird. You simply fill in the totals of each species you observed (no need to enter zeros for those you did not see), and you've successfully added to a wealth of birding research.

In 2008, I observed a grand total of 33 birds during the bird count; I hope to at least triple that number this year now that I know more places to go and more species that I can easily identify. I hope to count each day in a different place, but the weather forecast isn't necessarily promising. Still, it's time to get your count on, so grab a notebook, your binoculars, a trusty field guide, and make every bird count!

The Great Backyard Bird Count

Today I reported my findings for The Great Backyard Bird Count, an annual event to catalog birds through the combined efforts of thousands of birders around the country. My results were less impressive than I'd hoped, though I have submitted three checklists - one for my own backyard, and two for separate walks through lovely trails a few miles from home. All in all, not bad for my first year participating in the Count. My results (positively identified) are:

• 15 Mallard Ducks
• 1 Black Billed Magpie
• 5 Dark Eyed Juncos
• 8 California Quail
• 2 Eurasian Collared Doves
• 2 House Finches

Perhaps next year, when there is more to attract feathers to my yard, there will be more birds on the annual checklist and I'll be more experienced in identifying them so I can include every species I see. I also hope to spend all weekend next year traveling to other areas to document the birds to help the count be even more valuable and accurate.

If you've counted birds in your backyard, you have until March 1 to submit your checklists, so don't delay!