“FeederWatch”
(click on a photo to enlarge)
Every year, on the second Saturday in November, Cornell’s Laboratory of Ornithology “Project FeederWatch” program begins. I’ve been participating in this program for 15 years in three states: Colorado, Maryland and now, Arizona. I do this because: I’m watching the birds anyway; it makes me feel more productive about all the time I spend doing the aforementioned; and my data contribute to “Citizen Science.” If you think you might be interested in adding your feederwatch counts to the Lab database, you can find further information HERE.
We’ve added a brand-new hopper feeder to our feeding station. Naturally all the birds ignored it on the first day but then the first customer arrived. Big surprise.
Male House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Saturday also happened to be an overcast day with a few sprinkles in the forecast. The birds decided to lay low and feeder watching was a bit disappointing. However, what happened after dark more than made up for a slow feederwatch day.
At approximately 8:45 PM we noticed something sitting on the side of the small fountain. The flashlight revealed a small owl and the glowing eyes of several mice scurrying about. The owl was so intent on watching the mice that it barely noticed the bright beam of light we were shining on it. I quickly ran in for the camera hoping the owl would still be there when I finally got everything together. It was. Meet our newest yard bird — a Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii).
Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii)
I had to carefully study the owl’s features in order to rule out Whiskered Screech-Owl but the dark bill, large feet and the streaking on the breast with only faint cross bars all pointed to Western Screech. Screech owls don’t always show their ear tufts as in our little owl.
Since FeederWatch goes for 48 consecutive hours, I was up bright and early this morning, scattering seed and filling birdbaths. The sky was cloudless and it promised to be a calm, sunny day. There was but a light coating of frost on the ground.
Soon after I got in place, a lovely flock of Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) landed on one of the old Agave stalks by the feeders. I’ve been waiting for this to happen for some time now. Bluebirds have been seen for several weeks in the immediate area but have been very flighty and have never allowed close approach. This morning was different.
Female Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana)
Much to my delight, all seven of them flew from the stalk to the birdbaths and I finally got the photos I’d been hoping for.
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), male
Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), female
It’s so nice to have bluebirds back in my life again and a pretty auspicious start to 21 weeks of Project FeederWatch!
November 19th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Congrats on your little Screech Owl. I volunteer at our Raptor Rehab center. When I try to get our Screech Owls out of the carrier for a program, they bite my thumb to help them off the perch! And I think a Great Horned Owl has been sitting in out big oak tree. I love raptors!
December 23rd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Yes, the photo of the little Western Screech-Owl is indeed a gem, but in my rather partial opinion nothing can top those beautiful bluebirds…on either side of the rainbow.