Backyard Birds, Frontyard Birds, Birds, Birds…..
by Kristi Orcutt, Children’s Garden Program Developer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
Thank you, everyone, for braving cold rain and mixed snow on Saturday to help us with the Great Backyard Bird Count. We had 7 adult participants. Thanks, also, to Sue Ridd of Richmond Audubon, for sharing her birding knowledge and experience with all of us.
A cedar waxwing.
We counted 16 species of birds (66 birds in all) in a 25 minute period. Highlights of our day were the Yellow-rumped Warbler (a.k.a. Butter Butt) and spotting flocks of beautiful Cedar Waxwings which are seen almost daily this week dining on late winter tree fruits throughout the Garden.
Pretty good for a chilly and rainy/snowy day!
While the Great Backyard Bird Count is over for this year, you can contribute your bird observations year-round. Data submitted to ebird.com assists scientists with tracking bird migration and population trends.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Henrico, US-VA Feb 16, 2013 10:35 AM – 11:00 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: cold, rain/snow mix
15 species (+1 other taxa)
Accipiter sp. 1
Mourning Dove 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 3
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 1
Carolina Wren 1
American Robin 7
Northern Mockingbird 1
Cedar Waxwing 15
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
Northern Cardinal 1
Common Grackle 17
House Finch 4
American Goldfinch 2
Want to learn more about local birds?
Children’s Garden staff, Kelly Riley & Katelyn Coyle birding in the Children’s Garden.
The Richmond Audubon Society is hosting Prothonotary Warblers with Bob Reilly this Thursday, Feb. 21, coffee 6:30 p.m., program at 7 p.m. at St. Luke Lutheran Church.
This is a chance to learn about the Prothonotary Warbler Nest Box Study and to assemble some Prothonotary nest boxes. Master Bander Dr. Bob Reilly will give the latest data about the studies he is conducting and add much needed brightness to mid-February with pictures of these “Golden Swamp Warblers”.
After a short talk, attendees will have a chance to assemble some boxes to be used in the study – replacements boxes for damaged or lost over the winter.
RAS will have box parts pre-cut and have tools and appropriate hardware on hand, there is a $10 suggested donation to help defray the costs of the materials.
Also, if you are really into birds, you’ll also want to check out WCVE Science Matters Great Blue Heron video and sponsored Great Blue Heron Rookery Walks. Did you know that crows can recognize faces and remember the things we’ve done to them — good or bad– for a long, long time. You can learn Intelligent and Adaptable Crow, featured on Science Wednesday, tonight on WCVE PBS, at 8 p.m.
Cedar waxwing photo credit: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/id