Today is the last day of the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Our sunny skies this morning have given way to clouds, making for an overcast afternoon.

On a good note, today I saw my first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the year!

#GBBC #GreatBackyardBirdCount #birds #birding

Probably my last birding of this year's #GreatBackyardBirdCount, a quick wetlands walk that produced four new species for the year for me. The highlight was a pair of Canvasbacks, which I generally only see a few times a year at most. And finally some butterbutts. Where have you been hiding?

42) Northern Shoveler
43) Canvasback
44) House Finch
45) Yellow-rumped Warbler

#BirdsOf2023 #birds #oregon #gbbc

Well, that was a pleasant surprise!

One of the Trumpeter Swans I saw today, among the 400+ Tundra Swans and dozen Trumpeter Swans at the northwest Ohio marsh, is the same swan I saw and photographed in August 2020.

How do I know it's the same swan?

It's a banded Trumpeter Swan.

From history published online, that swan and its mate have been nesting at the nearby national wildlife refuge since 2007.

#birds #birding #GBBC #TrumpeterSwan

The #GreatBackyardBirdCount continues. This morning, I spent an hour at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge, picking up a decent list of birds, including 5 new for me for the year (Officially anyway. I'd seen kestrels before but not counted them in a list):

37) Tundra Swan
38) Killdeer
39) Northern Harrier
40) American Kestrel
41) Western Meadowlark

#BirdsOf2023 #birds #gbbc #oregon

I've been submitting my birdfeeder visitors for the #GreatBackyardBirdCount #GBBC and I swear they must know that's happening because I had a huge explosion of visitors all of a sudden. They decided today was the exact day spring has started.

Snuck out for another birding round with the youngest. Snagged a new lifer (easy because I'm a beginner anyway!)

#GBBC #birds

My first #GreatBackyardBirdCount of the weekend wasn't wildly diverse - 11 pretty expected species - but it all counts. One of the really useful functions of GBBC is seeing population trends in the most common birds. And I did get one new one for the year list that had somehow hidden from me until now.

36) Red-winged Blackbird

#GBBC #BirdsOf2023 #birds #oregon

The Great Backyard Bird Count is on! Over the next four days, if you can identify one bird in fifteen minutes, you can be part of one of the biggest citizen science projects in the world.

If you're not an experienced birder, but still want to help, download the Merlin app to help with the IDs or look to see if any of your local birding groups are meeting this weekend (They probably are.) Let's go count some birds!
https://www.birdcount.org/

#birds #gbbc #nature #science

Today's the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Join me and thousands of other birdwatchers around the world.

It’s a fun activity to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

https://www.lireo.com/great-backyard-bird-count-2023/

#GBBC #birds #birdwatching #birding

The thought of participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count helped to decide to go out to do my daily 30 min. #BackYardBirding, despite light rain and clouded weather.

As always I am glad I did, as I find it refreshing for body and soul 🙂, maybe even especially when it rains.

15 species in these 30 min. as seen from my hiding place against the wall of the house.

7 Whooper Swans 📸 flying over being my favourites, 2 Yellowhammers coming second and a Grey Heron flying by 3rd.

#GBBC #birds

#GBBC

Another reminder from today's Great Backyard Bird Count webinar:

You don't need binoculars to participate in this weekend's Great Backyard Bird Count.

Get outside, watch birds!

#GBBC #birding #birds

Nice guide for tricky bird identifications from Project Feeder Watch.

https://feederwatch.org/learn/tricky-bird-ids/

#GBBC #birds #birding #birdwatching

In today's Great Backyard Bird Count webinar:

Yes, sparrows can be challenging to identify!

1. Start with size and shape (is it large/small?), color patterns (white throat for White-throated Sparrow), behavior, habitat, and range
2. Ask questions!
3. Use field guides or digital resources (Two favorites: All About Birds and Merlin Bird ID app)
4. Be patient

#GBBC #birding #birds #birdwatching

You can download a printable checklist for birds found in your area for this weekend's Great Backyard Bird Count:

1. Visit https://ebird.org/explore
2. In "Explore Regions" section, select region (county/province)
3. Select "Region navigation"
4. In Explore, select "Printable Checklist"
5. Print

#GBBC #birding #birds #birdwatching

In YouTube chat for today's Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) webinar:

"Subscribers-only mode.

Messages that appear are from people who’ve subscribed to this channel for 5 minutes or longer."

#GBBC #birds #birding #birdwatching

If you're interested in learning more about this weekend's Great Backyard Bird Count, there's a free webinar today in less than an hour (1pm Eastern Time):

Get Ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count: Q&A.

https://dl.allaboutbirds.org/gbbc23-yt-livestream-0

#GBBC #birds #birding #birdwatching #nature

Join me and thousands of other birdwatchers this weekend, February 17 to 20, in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count.

Every February, people around the world join together to share their love of birds by watching and counting as many birds as they can and reporting them online.

It’s a fun activity to enjoy from the comfort or your own home on your own or with your family and friends!

https://www.lireo.com/great-backyard-bird-count-2023/

#GBBC #birds #birdwatching #birding #nature