This morning's backyard bird count yielded 19 year round residents, 2 winter residents, and 8 summer residents; we are now seeing a large increase in summer residents.
Below is a graph depicting all the bird counts I have posted, showing a change over in the bird community in our backyard:
Here is the count list. I have indicated if the bird is a year round resident, winter resident, or summer resident. I have also indicated the conservation status of each species.
Eastern Towhee (
Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Year Round Resident, Populations declining throughout range
Northern Mockingbird (
Mimus polyglottos)
Year Round Resident, Common and widespread
Northern Cardinal (
Cardinalis cardinalis)
Year Round Resident, Population density and range increasing
Tufted Titmouse (
Baeolophus bicolor)
Year Round Resident, Populations increasing and expanding range northward
Eastern Phoebe (
Sayornis phoebe)
Year Round Resident, Populations stable
Carolina Wren (
Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Year Round Resident, Populations stable or increasing
Carolina Chickadee (
Poecile carolinensis)
Year Round Resident, Slight, but significant population decreases across range
Brown-headed Nuthatch (
Sitta pusilla)
Year Round Resident, Decreasing because of habitat degradation
Brown Thrasher (
Toxostoma rufum)
Year Round Resident, Populations declining slowly throughout range
Blue Jay (
Cyanocitta cristata)
Year Round Resident, There is a slight but significant decline in Blue Jay numbers across the United States, with most of the decline in the East
House Finch (
Cyanocitta cristata)
Year Round Resident, Common and benefiting from human development
American Robin (
Turdus migratorius)
Year Round Resident, Populations stable or increasing throughout its range
Mourning Dove (
Zenaida macroura)
Year Round Resident, Widespread and abundant
Brown-headed Cowbird (
Molothrus ater)
Year Round Resident, Common bird across most of North America, but numbers are declining in most areas
Common Grackle (
Quiscalus quiscula)
Year Round Resident, Abundant and widespread
Hairy Woodpecker (
Picoides villosus)
Year Round Resident, Common and widespread
Red-bellied Woodpecker (
Melanerpes carolinus)
Year Round Resident, Populations are increasing throughout most of range
American Crow (
Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Year Round Resident, Populations slightly, but significantly increasing
Red-tailed Hawk (
Buteo jamaicensis)
Year Round Resident, Populations increasing across most of range
Chipping Sparrow (
Spizella passerine)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Populations appear healthy
House Wren (
Troglodytes aedon)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Populations increasing
Gray Catbird (
Dumetella carolinensis)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Number in Southeast declining
Summer Tanager (
Piranga rubra)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Most populations stable
Wood Thrush (
Hylocichla mustelina)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Is a high conservation concern due to long-term population declines
Chimney Swift (
Chaetura pelagica)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Populations declining throughout range
Great Crested Flycatcher (
Myiarchus crinitus)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Populations stable
Ruby Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Summer (Breeding) Resident, Populations appear stable
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Winter Resident, Declining over much of breeding range
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Winter Resident, Populations increasing throughout range
For more information on point counts, visit the Point Count Database: www.pwrc.usgs.gov/point/
References:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide
The Brown Thrasher is the state bird of Georgia. It is described as a large, skulking bird of thickets and hedgerows. Their populations are declining slowly throughout range due to the maturation of shrublands in the East and the elimination of fence rows and shelter belts in the Great Plains.
And then there was one...
Wednesday 2 more fledged, leaving 2 in the nest.
As you can see it is out of the nest and on the ledge, this behavior is called "branching".
Our passionflower vine, also commonly called maypop (Passiflora incarnata), has finally taken off. We planted the vine along the fence in our backyard 3 years ago. It had no flowers and little growth for two years, but this year has come into its own, covering a large section of the fence and producing numerous flowers.
Have you ever found one of these in your shed or basement? I found one in my bathtub last night. It is a Camel Cricket (Ceuthophilus sp.) or some refer to it as a Cave Cricket. While their appearance is sure give you the creepy crawlies, they are in fact very harmless.
The house finch nestlings are 6 days old today. They typically fledge the nest at 14 days old, which will be on May 29th.
feeder at just about any department or garden store. Making food is easy, it is just 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. You have to use real sugar and not sugar substitute, those little birds need the calories! The way I usually make it is by heating up the water, adding the sugar making sure to dissolve it, and then allowing it to cool in a container in the fridge. You have to change and clean this type of feeder twice a week, since the food spoils quickly, especially when it is warm outside, and you do not want to get your visiting hummers sick! But keeping it clean is easily rewarded by having hummingbirds constantly visiting your feeder.
The House Finches 2nd brood hatched early this morning, 5 hatchlings in all. Both the female and male have been taking turns watching and feeding them.
This morning's backyard bird count yielded 19 year round residents, 2 winter residents, and 8 summer residents; we are now seeing a large increase in summer residents.
