Project FeederWatch

Project FeederWatch Benefits Birds and People

Connection with nature promotes wellness

Have you ever participated in this? We're thinking of giving it a try this year.

My hubby is an alumnus of Cornell University, and when we go to Ithaca we try to fit in a visit to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Sapsucker Woods (this link gives you a peek at one of those visits). It's a great place for observing birds - either from inside the main building, which has a huge glass wall overlooking a wooded area and pond, or outside on the beautiful woodland trails. We love this fascinating place!

Below is some information, if you're interested, along with a sampling of photos I've taken of some of the birds we see at our feeders, and in the yard during the year.

Purple Finch - male

The 2008-09 season of Project FeederWatch gets underway November 8 and runs through April 3. Participants count the numbers and kinds of birds at their feeders each week and send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Participants submitted more than 115,000 checklists during the 2007-08 FeederWatch season, documenting unusual bird sightings, winter movements, and shifting ranges -­ a treasure trove of information that scientists use to monitor the health of the birds and of the environment.

Tree Swallow

Beyond the benefits to birds and science, however, is the benefit to participants. “Nature is not merely an amenity; it is critical to healthy human development and functioning,” says Nancy Wells, Cornell University assistant professor of design and environmental analysis. Her studies find that a view of nature through the window, or access to the environment in any way, improves a child’s cognitive functioning and reduces the negative effects of stress on the child’s psychological well-being. Wells also notes that when children spend time with nature early in life it carries over to their adult attitudes and behavior toward the environment.

American Goldfinch - male

Project FeederWatch welcomes participants of all ages and skill levels, from scout troops and retirees to classrooms and nature center visitors. To learn more and to sign up, visit http://www.feederwatch.org/ or call the Lab toll-free at (800) 843-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Lab members) participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds in their area, a calendar, complete instructions, and the FeederWatch annual report, Winter Bird Highlights.

Visit the “Explore Data” section of the web site to find the top 25 birds reported in your region, rare bird sightings, and bird summaries by state or province.

White-breasted Nuthatch - male

Blue Jay

Mourning Dove

Cardinal - male

Female Cardinal on top of feeder, Red-bellied Woodpecker on left, and House Sparrows on right.

Red-bellied Woodpecker - female

Downy Woodpecker - male

Hairy Woodpecker - male (longer beak and larger body than the Downy)

Tufted Titmouse and Downy Woodpecker

Tree Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrows

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - male

Red-winged Blackbird - male

Female Red-winged Blackbird (front) and Female Cowbird

Cowbirds - male

Chickadees

This Chickadee is using a new feeder my dear hubby bought recently as a surprise Christmas present for me......but he decided it was actually for the birds, and they should have it now rather than wait for Christmas :) The surrounding cage keeps the bully birds (Starlings, Grackles, etc.) from eating all the seed that we'd rather see the smaller birds get. It also foils the squirrels.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - male (they've now deserted us for warmer climes)

This will be a fun activity to brighten up the winter days, and the little grandsons should enjoy it too, when they come for a visit. Anything that benefits birds and our environment is worth a try, don't you think?

Click this link if you'd like to visit Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website to identify birds and listen to their songs and calls. This is a wonderful source for bird IDs.