We each watch for birds in our yard or patches — however, and how many, you wish to define that to be — and keep a list of them to share each month in the Bird Race diary in some way. We will each be keeping track of our own bird lists. Ebird is a very easy way to do that. Or you can write them down in a notebook.
Or you can take pictures and add them to a folder on your computer.
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There are no “rules” for the Bird Race beyond what you set for yourself. Some ideas for information that you might share here as part of the conversation, any combinations of:
- A total list or count of birds you have seen: monthly, year to date, life
- New birds you have seen, since the last tally
- Interesting behavior you have seen
- Any patterns or changes in patterns
- General location in the country
- Type of habitat
- Bird ID sites or articles you have found helpful, general or bird family specific
- Equipment you use, how you use it, why you got it, where you got it, how to maintain and care for it
- Photo processing tips and storage/display sites
If you move or travel during the year, it would be very interesting to compare the backyard birds you see in different settings!
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Terminology
- Patch — A favorite area to bird usually not your immediate backyard
- Observation — Seeing or hearing a bird that you can positively ID
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The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns spinning around us.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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My Yard is the area around my apartment complex. My Patch is my yard plus a nearby park with ponds. My other groupings are County, State, US and above.
I added no birds to my Yard or Patch in May keeping my totals at 25 and 38 respectively.
I added 33 birds to my County total bringing it to 196 for the year. Those birds were Marbled Godwit, Western Kingbird, Pomarine Jaeger, Lark Sparrow, Red-necked Phalarope, Short-billed Dowitcher, Red Knot, Blue-winged Teal, Western Tanager, Wilson’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Chipping Sparrow, Gray Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Common Yellowthroat, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Rock Wren, Bullock’s Oriole, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Calliope Hummingbird, Lazuli Bunting, Black-throated Sparrow, MacGillivray’s Warbler and Fox Sparrow.
I added 32 birds to my State total bringing it to 197 species for the year. The list was the same as for my County with the exception of the Cedar Waxwing which was seen in February.
May saw 23 new species for my Country, as well as all wider categories. That total is now at 227 species for the year. I added Pomarine Jaeger, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Knot, Blue-winged Teal, Western Tanager, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Chipping Sparrow, Gray Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Warbling Vireo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Rock Wren, Bullock’s Oriole, Dusky Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Calliope Hummingbird, Lazuli Bunting, Black-throated Sparrow, MacGillivray’s Warbler and Fox Sparrow.
I added 2 species to my Life List, bringing it to 290 species total. Those two were a Pomarine Jaeger and a Red Knot.
What did you add to your list(s) in May? What interesting observation did you make? What interesting bird news did you find?
Next Bird Race report day is July 9, 2022.