Today is for the birds.

[953 nut 56,091]

National Bird Day, which has American origins, has been celebrated annually on January 5th since its inaugural event in 2002.

This date was chosen because January 5th also happens to be the day of the yearly "Christmas Bird Count." This annual national holiday has been observed in the USA for quite some time. The findings offer details on both the quantity and condition of birds across the United States of America.

 

 

[ebinmaine 68,742]

I've been an amateur bird watcher for my whole life. 

My maternal Grammy had several feeders and really enjoyed the variety of birds they'd see. 

Whenever they traveled around she would keep half an eye out for different ones. 

 

When I was in 8th grade we had a science teacher that was what you'd call an extreme ornithologist. 

He and his wife were leading members of the Athol Bird & Nature Club. They even had a saw whet owl 🦉 in permanent foster care at their house. 

Some of us got more into the activities than others of course but birds and bird watching was obviously a very influential part of his curriculum. There was even a human sized poster on his wall with over 70 birds to identify. That was a great extra credit addition to the grades that year. 

We took several class field trips that year to various environments around Massachusetts. 

 

For the Annual Christmas Count I was given what to this day I consider quite an honor. 

I was chosen to ride in his car for the day. The teacher and his wife along with a girl from class all went driving around staring and counting. 

 

The Annual Count occurs from mid December to today,  depending on region. 

Back in the 1980s when I did it the local club held it during school vacation.  

 

I've continued watching birds although the methodology has changed. 

Back then we kept Year Lists and Life Lists. I no longer do that but certainly keep an eye out absolutely every day to see what birds are around.  

 

Nowadays of course I'm with the Trina person who also has the bird staring bug. 

 

We've seen a couple while out hiking that I'd been searching out for years. 

 

Excellent post. 

Great memories in ornithology...

 

 

 

 

[Ed Kennell 39,036]

My count this AM.

3 morning doves

7 juncos

1 tufted titmouse

too many to count sparrows

 

4 crackles

Edited Sunday at 01:01 PM by Ed Kennell

[WHX?? 49,432]

This thread is for the birds ... 

Had a trail cam got knocked around by a bear once and he pointed it right at the bird feeders. 

[953 nut 56,091]

Our cats are doing the count for me.                 

[Beap52 915]

Got our bird feeders up before the impending storm that has been called for in SW Missouri.  I've got blue bird houses and usually raise a couple of sets per summer.  Dad gum sparrows give the blue birds fits. (I've learned to watch and when I confirm sparrows have invaded the houses, set a mouse trap inside.)  We also have a couple of wren houses mounted inside the headers of our front porch. They are fun to watch.  Before we had houses built across the road, the parent wrens could make a bug run for the babies in about 90 seconds. 

 

Weather lady predicts that we get about 1/4 inch of ice and one inch of snow with 40 mph gusts. No church today so I think I'll head to the shop and work on a covered bridge for train set.  Bird feeders are full and I got left over deer tenderloin that I grilled yesterday so all is good!

[WHX?? 49,432]

I hate wrens Beaps ... I got a half dozen blue houses out and the wrens kick them out and destroy eggs. No idea how to stop it. 

[ebinmaine 68,742]

11 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

I hate wrens Beaps ... I got a half dozen blue houses out and the wrens kick them out and destroy eggs. No idea how to stop it. 

 

 

 

https://www.sialis.org/wrens/#:~:text=On a box with a,effective in deterring House Wrens.

[ebinmaine 68,742]

@WHX??

 

I've also read that wrens prefer shade and bluebirds lean toward more open sunny areas.  

[WHX?? 49,432]

6 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

@WHX??

 

I've also read that wrens prefer shade and bluebirds lean toward more open sunny areas.  

Tried that with wren houses in the shade ... no dice ... Ill check that link out ... 

[Bar Nuthin 703]

My wife snapped some photos of the variety of birds at one of her feeders.

 

For some reason they all left in a big hurry.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qAkphpRVsRbWvGwt6

Edited Sunday at 02:44 PM by Bar Nuthin

[EB-80/8inPA 1,698]

This post got me wondering how many special celebration days exist in this country.  Turns out it’s a lot.  https://www.listofnationaldays.com/
There’s never a day without some reason to celebrate!

[Horse Newbie 7,159]

I only saw One…

 

 

Edited Sunday at 03:57 PM by Horse Newbie

[Ed Kennell 39,036]

4 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

For some reason they all left in a big hurry.

Yep, no one wanted to bathe with Big Red.

 

 

[953 nut 56,091]

5 hours ago, EB-80/8inPA said:

There’s never a day without some reason to celebrate

I just celebrate each day because every day is a gift from God.

[ebinmaine 68,742]

1 minute ago, 953 nut said:

I just celebrate each day because every day is a gift from God.

 

One needs not be religious to celebrate any given day.  

I celebrate every day as well.  

It's all about the mindset and positivity of the person.  

 

[Beap52 915]

I'm surely not telling my wife every day is a recognized holiday.  It's hard enough keeping up with birthday, Christmas, anniversary and valentine's day cards!  

[ebinmaine 68,742]

1 hour ago, Beap52 said:

I'm surely not telling my wife every day is a recognized holiday.  It's hard enough keeping up with birthday, Christmas, anniversary and valentine's day cards!  

 

Do like BBT and I do and stop recognizing all but the birthday. 

The rest are just commercials anyway. 🙄 

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 26,101]

10 hours ago, WHX?? said:

I hate wrens Beaps ... I got a half dozen blue houses out and the wrens kick them out and destroy eggs. No idea how to stop it. 

Uhm...

 

[WHX?? 49,432]

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Uhm...

Lol may come to that EB's suggestions don't work... 

[ebinmaine 68,742]

2 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

Lol may come to that EB's suggestions don't work... 

 

 

I'll back that one too

[c-series don 9,008]

I guy I used to work with absolutely hated wrens, never before in my life did I ever meet someone who disliked a particular bird species so much! He said that they were the a_ _ holes of the bird world!!! I remember they would fly into the shop, I swear it was to taunt him! 

[Ed Kennell 39,036]

I like  my wrens.  They answer with a song when I call to them.  And they eat bugs.     The sparrows and robins are my enemies.   The sparrows fight the blues for nesting rights and the robins destroy all my strawberries, plums, pears,  and pull up all my night crawlers.

[Beap52 915]

Starlings are a pain with bird feeders.  They come in as a gang and nothing else eats until they have their fill.  A thump on the window sends them to the neighbors. 

[ebinmaine 68,742]

2 hours ago, Beap52 said:

Starlings are a pain with bird feeders.  

 

We're lucky here. 

We have NO starlings or pigeons.

Likely too woodsy 🌳 

 

Every once in a while we see a wild turkey in the distance but they never hang out by the feeders.