The Great Backyard Bird Count 2014

I must admit... I will never be a scientist. 

It just isn't a part of me, 
though quite honestly, I've tried.

Patiently Waiting a Turn at the Feeder

With pencil and notebook, I was so ready to record 
my backyard bird scientific data for the Great Backyard Bird Count...
the day, the hour, the species,
the numbers. 

It's a Party!

 And then it happened...
I became completely distracted by the show.

 Dove Dancin' in the Morning Air

Who wouldn't be?
 Kinda hard to count birds and photograph them at the same time.

It wasn't long before I knew...
my heart just wasn't into the science of this event. 

But capturing the images... 
now that makes my heart zing! 

Dark Eyed Junco

This little guy stole my heart...

something about those deep black eyes.

He's often described as 

"leaden skies above, snow below".

Free Rent

Isn't he a flashy little fellow?

He's polite and very well mannered at the feeder.
Also enjoys foraging for food 
in the brown winter gardens.

Move in.  Please?

House Sparrow

Who knew a common House Sparrow 
could be so enchanting?

King for a Day

Notice the black patch on his throat.

The larger that patch, the older and more dominate he is.

Nice to wear this information 

on their feathers for all the ladies to see!

House Finch

The red of a male House Finch 

comes from the pigments 

contained in their food during molt.

Looking at You!

The more pigment in the food... the redder he is. 

That's why you sometimes see orange or yellowish male House Finches. 

They must not dine in my Raspberry Patch.

I Pick You!

A female Finch is really quite plain.
She prefers to mate with the reddest male she can find.

Wouldn't you?

American Robin

Ever wondered how to tell 

if a Robin is male or female?

They are very similar

but females are more pale in color

and the head is more gray than black. 

Surveying the Sights

Our Robins are quite elusive this day...

I only saw two from a distance.

Perhaps they know they can't compete 

with the dule* of doves 

that are gathered here.

*Dule...

as in flock.

Eurasian Collared Dove

I counted well over twenty-eight doves 

 when I stepped out on the porch 

and interrupted their party.

Should have gone for the image instead of the count.

So many doves fluttering at once... 

it really was quite amazing.

Lovey Doves

The Doves are certainly announcing an early Spring here... 

and driving me a bit looney 

with their constant mating calls.

It's quite the scene.
But oh, how I love Nature. 

♦ ♦ ♦ 

I've entered my data with birdcount.org.
The numbers were simple estimates...
 and I collected my certificate.


Perhaps I should have called it...

The Great Backyard Photo Shoot.

♦  ♦  ♦

Kudos to 

Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

and

Audubon

for creating such a great project.

I promise next year I'll do better with the counting.

Maybe I'll enlist my grandkiddos to count while I take the pics!

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