Results tagged “birds” from Mrs. Happy Housewife

The backyard birdfeeder has been in desperate need of a makeover for quite some time - a makeover being much less expensive than buying a new birdfeeder. I finally could not stand it any more and took a few minutes this weekend to slap a bit of paint on it.

We chose the paint from amongst the half-used gallons in our garage. It's "Olympia" by Valspar.

For three days, we have waited with bated breath to see what bird would be first to visit our painted birdfeeder.

As you can see here, our first visitor had a bushy tail and was not a bird.

Oh, well. I suppose the birds haven't yet gotten the memo that we have a buffet ready for them.

Monday we participated in the GBBC 2010 and enjoyed ourselves much. This was the most I have exerted myself since my brain surgery in November, so I was very tired afterwards. We stayed in our own neighborhood and didn't travel the local trail, as we usually do. Because of this, we didn't spot as many birds as in past years, but I think we still did well.

Here's our tally:

• 12 Muscovy ducks
• 32 Mallard ducks
• 1 Snowy Egret
• 1 Great Egret
• 1 Little Blue Heron
• 1 Green Heron
• 5 White Ibis
• 1 Wood Stork
• 1 Turkey Vulture
• 4 Common Moorhens
• 1 Northern Mockingbird
• 1 Palm Warbler

See? Not too bad. As you can see, we found many water birds - thanks to the three ponds in our tiny neighborhood.

The best part of the bird count was that we got a chance to see a newly laid clutch of Muscovy eggs.

A few photos from the bird count:

It's almost time for another Great Backyard Bird Count. Seven more days, to be exact. This year's count will begin on Friday, February 12 and end on Monday, February 15. There will be prizes for the photo contest and a general prize drawing among all the participants. How nice! All of the prizes look great and would be helpful teaching aids in our homeschool; however, we love to participate in the count each year, regardless of potential prizes. It is great fun to look for birds and to contribute our collected data.

To participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, print a tally sheet for your area. Next, you will need to spend at least 15 minutes counting the birds in your area. You can observe in your own backyard or at the park down the street. Just make sure to keep a separate tally sheet for each location and for each day you participate. After you count your local birds, enter your tally at the Great Backyard Bird Count website.

After the bird count, scientists will use the data collected to answer many questions. That's why the bird count is so important.

Teachers and homeschoolers might like the free classroom materials available.

Here are the rules for the photo contest. Here are the galleries of photos from previous years.

If you don't have a bird guide book to help you with identification, you can look online for help. I often use eNature.com for identification. I take the closest photo possible and use it as a reference when I return home. In fact, I identify most flora and fauna in this manner.

I hope you all will join the Great Backyard Bird Count this year. Remember: it begins in only one week. 

My husband has a dish of seed on the front porch to feed the local squirrels, but look who showed up yesterday.

Isn't...

he...

cute?

I was hiding behind the curtains while he enjoyed our sunflower seeds.

Now, I thought he was a Black-capped Chickadee because I read that they have a longer black bib than the Carolina Chickadee; however, after listening to audio of the two birds' songs, I believe he was a Carolina Chickadee. He hung out for a while snatching sunflowers seeds, so I really got a good chance to hear his song. Also, the Carolina's range includes Florida. Therefore, I'm going with Carolina. Regardless, he was an adorable thing. I hope he comes back.

Movie lovers (like Laura) should recognize the post title.

We went to Philippe Park on Saturday afternoon. It's a lovely park - 122 acres situated on the water. The nicest spot in the park is a ceremonial Tocobago Indian mound. Most every child who comes to the park rolls down the mound; I did, too, when I was a girl.

On Saturday, H and the kids tossed a football around atop the mound. Long before us, the Tocobago who lived around the mound were visited by Narvaez, De Soto, and Menendez. It's a bit of an historical place, yet families come there and have parties and play ball.

Long after the Tocobago left the mound area, Odet Philippe (who may or may not have invented his past) arrived and built a home near the mound.

In 1848, Odet Philippe and his family were saved from a hurricane and rising waters by standing atop the mound. It's believed that one-third of the mound was washed away during that storm.

While running on the mound Saturday, D spotted a lovely woodpecker.

I was sure it was a Pileated Woodpecker, a bird which I have never seen. Later, at home, my field guide confirmed my belief. It was a male.

Then, we walked along the shore, past Odet Philippe's grave marker, winding our way back to our car. H heard the hoot first. Then, D heard it. Everyone walked on, but I wouldn't budge 'til I too heard the owl. I never heard the hoot; instead, I saw the owl!

A Great Horned Owl was high in a tree, bathed in the rays of the setting sun.

I've never seen any owl in the wild before. A park ranger later informed us that there is a whole family of owls living at the park, though she has never seen them herself.

I was, of course, giddy as we exited the park. Not only did I see two birds I have never seen before, but I also got pictures and was able to use my Christmas present from H: photographic binoculars.

It was a very pleasant afternoon.

Get your binoculars, cameras, and field guides ready. The 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count is only a month away. The four day, yearly event is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society to gather bird data across the country.  The count is one of our favorite activities in our homeschool. Please see the Great Backyard Bird Count website for more information on this free and fun event.