For years we have fed birds during the winter months. This past winter, we thought we'd sign-up for Project FeederWatch and provide information for scientific research; help our birds survive the winter; and learn more about birds ourselves.
What a rewarding experience!
Last week marked the end of this years Project FeederWatch for our site. Anyone who visits this Blog knows that we enjoy watching and feeding birds. And that birds are an important part of our life, not only during the harsh winter months but all year. Some of "our" birds have been with us for several years and indeed visit our property all year. Shown above are two black-capped chickadees and a red-breasted nuthatch - year 'round residents!
Here is a list of the birds that visited our site throughout this past winter: Black-Capped Chickadee, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, Hairy Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Pine Grosbeak, Common Red Poll, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Dark-Eyed Junco, Red Winged Blackbird, Mourning Dove, Robin, Common Crow, Common Grackle, Purple Finch, and American Goldfinch. While not officially reported because it appeared on non-reporting days, we also had a Pileated Woodpecker. The largest visiting group sizes at any one time occurred with the Pine Grossbeaks, the Pine Siskens, Blue Jays, and the Common Red Poll where flock sizes went from 15 to over 50.
In case you're wondering just how much these birds eat over a winter, these are the amounts: black oil sunflower seeds: 450 lbs; peanuts in the shell: 25 lbs; shelled Virginia salt-free peanuts: 15 lbs; standard birdseed mix: 50 lbs; suet blocks: 25; niger seeds: 5 lbs. Feeders are filled every morning at 6:30 am and topped up at 3:00 pm. We also have ground feeding birds , so seed is spread on a cleared patch on the ground.
And nothing gets wasted!
We've signed already up for next winter and have cleaned and put away our feeding stations until then.
If you want to learn about Project FeederWatch and perhaps sign-up for your area, click on this link:
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