© Loree Griffin Burns
I spent part of today traipsing around the yard filling our seed feeders and suet holders. We’ve had an incredible diversity of bird species this year (fifteen at last count*) and I want to encourage all my avian visitors to stick around. I’ll need them during the next two weekends as I host two big citizen science activities here at the Burns homestead:
On Saturday, February 7 we’ll be counting birds for MassAudubon’s Focus on Feeders event. If you live in Massachusetts and you’d like to get involved in this simple citizen science project, here’s how.
On Saturday, February 14 we’ll be counting birds again, this time for National Audubon Society’s Great Backyard Bird Count. You can find more information here.
Both events are S-I-M-P-L-E: (1) go outside (2) for each species of bird you see, count the largest number of birds you see at any one time (3) record your data. Later, when you’re back inside sipping hot cocoa, you can compile and submit your data. These projects are designed for citizen scientists of any age or experience, so–QUICK!–get outside and fill your feeders.
*We’ve spotted these species in our yard this winter: cardinals, black-capped chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, dark-eyed juncos, mourning doves, tufted titmice, goldfinches, blue jays, crows, chipping sparrow (I think!), purple finches (I think!), red-tailed hawks and our new favorite, a red-bellied woodpecker.