[NatureNS] Project FeederWatch report for the year, with notes from previous

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From: Randy Lauff <randy.lauff@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2019 09:43:32 -0300
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All,

I just finished entering data for the final week of Project FeederWatch (
https://feederwatch.org/), an easy, comfortable (i.e. from inside your
house) citizen science project to do. This is my 17th year of participation
at the same site.

In the 17 years, I have recorded 50 species (exactly!) at my feeder system
(at least during the project survey times...there may be a few more either
out of season or in season, but not on survey days). My feeder system is
different than most, since it includes a carrion feeding station (I'm a
zoologist, and have ready access to carrion because of my line of work, and
I also get carcasses from trappers). This station is in my orchard, perhaps
50 m from my home and the conventional feeding stations. I normally feed
niger, black oil sunflower, cracked corn and suet, though their were three
modifications this season.

1. Essentially no niger this year. I had a few goldfinch in November and
the first survey of December, then *not a single finch* until one redpoll
showed up two weeks ago but didn't stay. I took the niger feeder down
mid-December.

2. Some small mammal species, perhaps more than one, was exceedingly
plentiful this year (I have a very good owl nesting season, which was one
indicator). This, in combination with the low snow cover, made hunting very
easy for bobcats (bear with me...this does relate to bird feeding!).
Trappers had good luck with bobcats, so I got more than 20 carcasses to
process for upcoming student projects. The bobcats were the fattest I've
ever seen, so I harvested large chunks of fat from them, rendered it, and
along with conventional suet, served it up to the birds. The birds ate it,
but strongly preferred the conventional suet. As a side note, I did not
take in my two suet feeders the other night...the raccoons only took down
the one with the conventional suet.

3. I had some dry cat food that was not to the taste of my cats. So out it
went with cracked corn on the ground. The jays and crows loved it.

*Species richness*: Each weekend, save for the last two, I counted between
6 and 9 species; the last two were in the low teens. In contrast, last
year's weekly tally was frequently over 10 species.

*Number of birds per survey period*:Despite the lower number of species
this year, the average number of birds per survey was constant at 48-49,
again, compared with last year.

*Species of note*: The birds I had at my conventional feeders can be
described as routine. However, I had at least six Downy Woodpeckers, which
is a record for me. The carrion station only added Bald Eagle and
Raven...no hawks, gulls or owls on the carrion this year, as has happened
in the past. Other than finches, notable absences were Mourning Doves
(except for the last two weeks) and Tree Sparrows (which I don't get every
year, but mostly [11 of 17 seasons] I do).

*Fun Fact*: In the 17 seasons, I've counted 23,653 birds!

Randy
_________________________________
RF Lauff
Way in the boonies of
Antigonish County, NS.

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div dir=3D"ltr">All,<div><br></div><div>I just finished e=
ntering data for the final week of Project FeederWatch (<a href=3D"https://=
feederwatch.org/">https://feederwatch.org/</a>), an easy, comfortable (i.e.=
 from inside your house) citizen science project to do. This is my 17th yea=
r of participation at the same site.</div><div><br></div><div>In the 17 yea=
rs, I have recorded 50 species (exactly!) at my feeder system (at least dur=
ing the project survey times...there may be a few more either out of season=
 or in season, but not on survey days). My feeder system is different than =
most, since it includes a carrion feeding station (I&#39;m a zoologist, and=
 have ready access to carrion because of my line of work, and I also get ca=
rcasses from trappers). This station is in my orchard, perhaps 50 m from my=
 home and the conventional feeding stations. I normally feed niger, black o=
il sunflower, cracked corn and suet, though their were three modifications =
this season.</div><div><br></div><div>1. Essentially no niger this year. I =
had a few goldfinch in November and the first survey of December, then <b>n=
ot a single finch</b> until one redpoll showed up two weeks ago but didn&#3=
9;t stay. I took the niger feeder down mid-December.</div><div><br></div><d=
iv>2. Some small mammal species, perhaps more than one, was exceedingly ple=
ntiful this year (I have a very good owl nesting season, which was one indi=
cator). This, in combination with the low snow cover, made hunting very eas=
y for bobcats (bear with me...this does relate to bird feeding!). Trappers =
had good luck with bobcats, so I got more than 20 carcasses to process for =
upcoming student projects. The bobcats were the fattest I&#39;ve ever seen,=
 so I harvested large chunks of fat from them, rendered it, and along with =
conventional suet, served it up to the birds. The birds ate it, but strongl=
y preferred the conventional suet. As a side note, I did not take in my two=
 suet feeders the other night...the raccoons only took down the one with th=
e conventional suet.</div><div><br></div><div>3. I had some dry cat food th=
at was not to the taste of my cats. So out it went with cracked corn on the=
 ground. The jays and crows loved it.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Species r=
ichness</b>: Each weekend, save for the last two, I counted between 6 and 9=
 species; the last two were in the low teens. In contrast, last year&#39;s =
weekly tally was frequently over 10 species.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Nu=
mber of birds per survey period</b>:Despite the lower number of species thi=
s year, the average number of birds per survey was constant at 48-49, again=
, compared with last year.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Species of note</b>:=
 The birds I had at my conventional feeders can be described as routine. Ho=
wever, I had at least six Downy Woodpeckers, which is a record for me. The =
carrion station only added Bald Eagle and Raven...no hawks, gulls or owls o=
n the carrion this year, as has happened in the past. Other than finches, n=
otable absences were Mourning Doves (except for the last two weeks) and Tre=
e Sparrows (which I don&#39;t get every year, but mostly [11 of 17 seasons]=
 I do).</div><div><br></div><div><b>Fun Fact</b>: In the 17 seasons, I&#39;=
ve counted 23,653 birds!</div><div><br></div><div>Randy<br clear=3D"all"><d=
iv><div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"gmail_signature">_____________________________=
____<br>RF Lauff<br>Way in the boonies of<br>Antigonish County, NS.</div></=
div></div></div></div>

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