This season has been the best ever for bird watching; we have been like crazy people jumping around in excitement over the birds we find at our feeders each day (Especially me). After bird watching for over 10 years I finally got to see a very special and rare bird that I had honestly given up hope of ever seeing. Would you like to see the little beauty???

 

A Painted Bunting!!! In living color (no punt intended) they have been coming to the feeder daily all day long for a few days now. I thought I was dreaming when I first saw the little guy at our feeder, Troy thought I had lost my marbles as I ran frantic about the house grabbing cameras, video camera and binoculars for all to come see! I don’t know how long they will be with us but I sure am going to enjoy them while I can! J

 

Would you like to see the rest of our daily visitors???  Some of these birds are year round friends and others are here for the winter. I have not listed them all but these are our favorites!

 Click on the birds names to read more about each bird and hear their song.

American Goldfinch

  

Red-winged Blackbird

  

Black-capped Chickadee

  

Northern Cardinal

  

House Finch

  

Purple Finch

  

Brown-headed Cowbird

  

We are looking forward to the Great Backyard Bird count coming up, this is a wonderful project to do with the children along with a unit study on birds.

 

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc

 

 

What is the GBBC?

 

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.

 

 

How to Participate

 

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes during February 15–18, 2008. Count birds at as many places and on as many days as you like—just keep a separate list of counts for each day and/or location.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time, and write it down. (You can get regional bird checklists here.)

 

3. Enter your results through our web page.

Feathered friends adventure Manuall

http://www.adventurer-club.org/Awards/FeatheredFriends.pdf

 

 

Here is a neat study that we use along with the GBBC.

 

Nature lesson birds

http://www.pathfindersonline.org/pdf/ayhonors/birds_a.pdf

 

If you get a chance fill those feeders and put out some fresh water. If you happen to be in the south fill your Hummingbird feeders because they are here and looking for food!! We have been filling ours and the sweet little hummers have been coming by to visit us daily!

Those little nimble musicians of the air, that warble forth their curious ditties, with which nature hath furnished them to the shame of art.  ~Izaak Walton