Backyard bird count update & GBBC

 BarrytheBirder photo

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is taking place this weekend in Canada and the USA.   For the first time I am entering some data in this important research project.   This afternoon I kept an eye on the feeders and recorded nine species.   Leading the way were Common Redpolls at 101 birds at one time!   I was shocked.   The most I've had previously this winter was 44.   Next were American Tree Sparrows at 26 and Dark-eyed Juncos at 22.   There were pairs of House Finches and Northern Cardinals plus singletons of White-breasted Nuthatches and Mourning Dove.   I took some pictures of the redpolls, just in case the folks at Cornell, Audubon, and Bird Studies Canada need some corroboration.

Meanwhile, here's how the numbers look for my own winter backyard bird count, as of Feb. 20, 2011.   Once again the numbers you see are for the most numbers of a single species, seen at one time.   Common Redpolls have pulled into a big lead.

Common Redpolls ~ 101

American Goldfinches ~   61

Dark-eyed Juncos ~   34

American Tree Sparrows ~   34

Mourning Doves ~   19

House Finches ~     8

House Sparrows ~     6

Northern Cardinals ~     5

Blue Jays ~     4

Chickadees ~     4

Red-breasted Nuthatches ~     2

White-breasted Nuthatches ~     2

Downey Woodpeckers ~     2

Starling ~     1

Cooper's Hawk ~     1

Total species   ~       15
(Species in red indicate new numbers)

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB