April 11, 2023

|Warbling Vireo by Michael Stubblefield/Macaulay Library |

For the seventh season in a row, Undertaking FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Limitless are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the prospect to win prizes. This yr, Celestron is becoming a member of the enjoyable and providing one pair of binoculars to every knowledge entry contest winner as nicely. After coming into hen counts (knowledge) into the FeederWatch web site, contributors have the chance to share a narrative, reminiscence, or tip by clicking the “Enter to Win” button on the Depend Abstract web page. We randomly choose two winners per immediate. Our ultimate Knowledge Entry contest immediate this season was:

Do you impart any birding expertise discovered from Undertaking FeederWatch to anybody? How do you share your love of birds with others?

Congratulations to our winners, Millie Simbeck and Joann Ringelstetter!

 Millie shared:

I like to share my data of birds with my granddaughters. They love seeing and listening to all of the completely different species at their house and mine. They’ve even been drawing and coloring completely different birds and giving them to me as presents.

Collaborating in Undertaking FeederWatch, and even merely watching birds may help interact kids within the pleasure of nature examine and the surprise of scientific investigation. The Cornell Lab’s Ok-12 Schooling group has created sources for academics and fogeys that construct science expertise whereas inspiring younger individuals to connect with native habitats, discover biodiversity, and interact in citizen-science initiatives. Try the Ok-12 Schooling web site for classes and actions for various grades, skilled improvement coaching, mum or dad sources, and extra. You could find sources particularly associated to Undertaking FeederWatch reminiscent of the brand new FeederWatch Classroom Information, functions for PFW classroom funding, and associated activites and studying on our Educator Sources web page.

Joann shared:

Every time anybody visits my wooded property, or if I’m going on a nature hike with anybody, I all the time cease and ask them to hearken to the birds which can be singing. I determine the species they level out and inform them a bit about that hen. My absolute favourite factor is sharing birds with kids – they’re so desirous to study. What I really like sharing probably the most with them is mnemonic [devices], particularly for the Warbling Vireo: “If I sees you, I’ll seize you, and I’ll squeeze you ’until you squirt!”

A mnemonic machine is a reminiscence method used to extra simply keep in mind troublesome materials. On this case, Joann is referring to phrases that individuals use to assist them keep in mind hen songs and calls. For instance, much like the Warbling Vireo track she references above, you would possibly hear a Carolina Wren singing, “Tea kettle, tea kettle, tea kettle,” or a White-throated Sparrow singing, “Oh candy Canada, Canada, Canada.” Should you want to follow studying your hen songs, you might discover Cornell’s Merlin Chook ID app very useful. Merlin Chook ID is a free app that acts as a pocket discipline information. You’ll be able to discover an inventory of birds that reside close to you, study their songs, view their vary maps, and extra. The app additionally has a Sound ID function that listens to the birds round you and exhibits real-time ideas for who’s singing. Study extra or learn how to obtain the Merlin Chook ID app right here. 

Due to everybody who participated and shared their tales over the 2022-2023 season – we want we might share your whole submissions! E mail feederwatch@cornell.edu with questions, and skim the tales from previous winners on our weblog.

Curious about turning into a FeederWatcher? Be a part of the enjoyable now!

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