Tis The Season For Christmas Bird Counting

"And a partridge in a pear tree."

Its' time for the Christmas Bird Count again! The Audubon organization sponsors the annual event each year during the Christmas holidays. Happening from December 14, 2011 through January 5, 2012, the volunteer army of bird-watchers count the various species seen in their yards, cities, and wildlife preserves.  The festive activity to involve people to help birds with a friendly bird experience. 

The data collected will help provide information on species populations and migration trends. Over 50,000 observers in 2000 locations from the Artic Circle to South America's Tierra del Fuego will participate.

You still have opportunity to get involved by contacting your local Audubon group.  You must be 19 yeas old to register and participate and there is a $5 fee which helps defray local expenses of counting equipment and materials.

I wonder if someone will see a partridge in a pear tree?  Probably more like cardinals with snow expected on Christmas Day for our northern feathered friends.

Here's a slideshow I took of birds visiting my mother-in-law's birdfeeder on New Year's Eve 2008.

Feed The Birds - New Year’s Eve 2008, Taunton MA

Free 2012 Bird Watching Calendar

For its 25th anniversary, Cornell Lab of Ornthinology is giving away free beautiful bird-watching 2011 -2012 calendars. The wall calendar provides an easy way to keep track of the days for Project Feeder Watch,  a seasonal all-winter tracking of birds at feeders throughout North America.

Please participate in Project Feeder Watch. The Watch goes from November through April 6th but they are still enrolling bird watching afficinados. You have to sign up and receive a number to turn in your sightings. 

Feed The Birds - New Year’s Eve 2008, Taunton MA

Keeping Squirrels Out of Your Feeder? Impossible!

Have you ever wished for the perfect baffle box to keep squirrels away from your bird feeder? I thought I had found one when I purchased a beautiful copper guaranteed squirrel proof bird feeder that closed all the openings when any weight was put onto the feeder. It worked ideally when I had it in my hand and put a small weight on it, the feeder openings closed tightly. Happy with myself for finding a solution, I thought it was working until I glimpsed from my bedroom window, a big fat gray squirrel hanging upside down from the same limb the bird feeder was hanging from - and without touching the bird feeder - the squirrel hung upside down by his feet and feasted right from the guaranteed squirrel-proof buffet openings. No, I didn't take back the bird feeder and get a refund. I just never filled it up with bird food again. It's a garden accessory now.

Keeping squirrels out of your yard is 'Mission Impossible.' Carling Black Label Beer thought the animals were so much fun, they made an advertisement with the little rodents.



Now here's a non-commercial capturing different but still as smart squirrels with reggae music.




Face it. Squirrels are nothing but rats with press agents.

Want to feed squirrels? Here's a great publication from UF's Sally Scalera.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation: Squirrels

Florida's Squirrels

Have you ever seen a Fox Squirrel?

Southern Fox Squirrel

Sherman Fox Squirrel habitat.




Removing squirrels from your home or attic.

Feed The Birds

Previously posted on January 4, 2008

With the coldest weather occuring in 25 years, I thought you might enjoy seeing these wonderful bird photos from our 2008 Christmas trip to New England ~ Teresa.

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We're up visiting family in Taunton, Massachusetts for New Year's. In typical New England winter style, we received a blanket of 8" of snow. The birds are regular diners on the patio and flew non-stop throughout the day. How many birds can you identify? Click on the title "Feed The Birds" above to see all 200+ photographs.