I’ve blogged before about our participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count that takes place in February each year.  The GBBC

If you’ve ever thought about doing a more lengthy bird-counting study, for fun or for an official school subject, check out Project Feeder Watch.  This study takes place from November through April.  Unlike the GBBC, Project Feeder Watch isn’t free, however the resources you receive as part of the study more than make up for the minimal cost.  Follow the link for more information and how to join.

 

And a hint for those of you who have never done this before:  Start filling your feeders now!  You want to encourage birds to stick around once winter is in full force.  The way to do that is to start feeding in September and October and continue all the way through the winter.  We fill our feeders to the hilt from September until May and then slack off some during the hottest summer months.  Specifically, I don’t maintain woodpecker suet or the finch thistle in July and August, but I do keep the sunflower feeder full and the two platform feeders (filled with a mixed seed variety).