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 and US.
My yard bird total is 15. I saw American Crow, American Robin, California Gull, California Scrub-Jay, Canada Goose, Eurasian Collared-Dove, European Starling, House Finch, House Sparrow, Hooded Merganser, Mountain Chickadee, Mourning Dove, Northern Flicker, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
My patch total is 30. I saw in addition to the yard birds above, American Coot, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Brewer's Blackbird, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Graylag Goose, Great-tailed Grackle, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-billed Gull, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Ruddy Duck, Spotted Towhee and Swan Goose.
My totals for my county and above is 77, 78 if I count the the farmed Common Ostriches. No trips out my county in January. In addition to the above 30 species I saw, American Goldfinch, American Wigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Bald Eagle, Barrow's Goldeneye, Belted Kingfisher, Bewick's Wren, Black-billed Magpie, Bushtit, Cackling Goose, California Quail, Cassin's Finch, Common Raven, Cooper's Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco, Double-crested Cormorant, Downy Woodpecker, Eurasian Wigeon, Fox Sparrow, Gadwall, Golden Eagle, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Greater Yellowlegs, Green-winged Teal, Hermit Thrush, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Goldfinch, Mallard, Mute Swan, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Peregrine Falcon, Purple Finch, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Redhead, Red-winged Blackbird, Ring-necked Duck, Rough-legged Hawk, Ruddy Duck, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Snow Goose, Song Sparrow, Steller's Jay, White-crowned Sparrow and Wood Duck.
What observations did you enjoy making? Any interesting behaviors or interactions? Did you read any interesting bird articles?
Next Bird Race report day is March 11, 2023.