Data Entry Contest: How do you FeederWatch?
For the sixth season in a row, Project FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the chance to win prizes. After entering bird counts (data) into the FeederWatch website, participants have the opportunity to share a story, memory, or tip by clicking the “Enter to Win” button on the Count Summary page. This year, we’re randomly selecting two winners per prompt. Our second Data Entry contest prompt was:
Do you FeederWatch with someone special, or do you enjoy watching in quiet solitude? Whether it’s with a family member, a pet, or your favorite coffee mug, tell us how you like to FeederWatch!
Congratulations to our winners, Shirley Werner and Lana Soosar!
Shirley shared:
My husband FeederWatches while Zooming during these pandemic times. It’s refreshing watching the birds zoom in to the feeder in real life besides just Zooming on the computer screen. When he has the computer positioned so that his colleagues can see out the window, they often comment on his beautiful woodsy garden background and enjoy seeing the birds come and go. He has discovered a number of fellow bird enthusiasts among his colleagues, which provides a cheerful topic of conversation.
Project FeederWatch can be a great way to connect with friends and family. We’ve heard from some participants that FeederWatching has even provided them increased relaxation and stress relief. If you have people in your life that you think would benefit from participating, you may be interested in taking advantage of our option to gift a membership.
Lara also likes to FeederWatch with someone special:
My husband, John, is an early riser. He’s often up enjoying a morning cup of coffee at 6:00AM. We both are avid bird watchers but he gets a head start, then calls me to join him at the window to watch as a flock of birds begin to arrive in our backyard. It’s the towering white birch trees that attract our birds not feeders. Both American Goldfinches and Black-capped Chickadees love to feed on the plentiful seeds that hang from their branches during the fall and winter months. American Robins come in late winter/early spring to feast on berries produced by the numerous juniper trees at the back of the garden. Of course, the birds don’t linger in the area like they do with a feeder in the yard. You never know just when they’ll return. Suddenly they’re back! What fun to have someone special to share it with.
Planting native plants and shrubs is a great way to attract birds to your yard. Not only do these plants provide seeds, berries, and fruits for birds to snack on, but they can foster native insect populations, which are critical for birds during the breeding season. To learn more about creating habitat for birds, feel free to visit our page on landscaping for birds, or, visit the NestWatch website to get more information on how to landscape for nesting birds specifically.
Thanks to everyone who participated and shared their stories – we wish we could share them all! We will pick two winners each month through April 2022. Check out the contest page after you submit your count on FeederWatch.org to view the next story prompt, and stay tuned for the announcement of our next winners on Tuesday, February 15, 2022! Using the app? You can access the Count Summary page which contains the link to the contest by signing in to our website, editing a count, and then re-submitting it. Email feederwatch@cornell.edu with questions.
Interested in becoming a FeederWatcher? Join the fun now!
10 comments on “Data Entry Contest: How do you FeederWatch?”
I begin with my first cup of coffee, when my feet hit the kitchen floor. The closest feeder is about 25 feet from the computer window so that’s where I sit. When I get a confusing warbler at the suet I can put 2 birds side by side and compare them. The same with sparrows/finches. I’m in my eighties so a chair, a window and a computer and a few books in the window sill suit me fine.
I’ve been doing this since I was five and watched Cardinals hatch their eggs from the dining room window. It was further encouraged in the 6th grade when we had a feeder outside our classroom window. My math suffered but my bird watching skills improved greatly and became a lifelong interest!
I have a feeder
I get different kinds of birds nuthatches juncos finches different kinds of wood peckers
And lots of blue jays who love peanuts
HOW DO YOU START WITH FEEDER WATCHING – OR SEND IN INFORMATION TO A LIST I’VE NEVER SEEN ONE YET ON COMPUTER THANK YOU . / I’VE DONE THIS IN 1992 WITH A PARK RANGER.
Hello David, thanks for reaching out. To participate, you can click the red Join or Renew button on our website, or visit : https://feederwatch.org/join-or-renew/
I HAD BEEN IN THE OFFICE WATCHING BIRDS . I SEEN OVER 10,235 IN 6 TH WEEK NOW . I DO MY OWN BIRD WATCHING . ITS GREAT TO KNOW THESE THINGS . I LOVE THIS STUFF BEEN DOING IT FOR YRS ON END
I live in Souther Ontario (Canada) and have been an avid bird watcher/feeder for almost 30 years. More so once the kids grew up and left the nest so I had more time for other critters lol. This year has been devastating in that EVERY day I would find a large patch of feathers on the ground where the bird feeders are hanging on tree branches. I can identify which bird bit the dust and it breaks my heart to know that I am actually setting this trap of death for them. At first I blamed the couple of stray cats that I feed. Over the years I took pity on them because folks would just dump their pets they no longer wanted and hoped that the wooded land across the street as well as the densily treed back yard would be suited for their new home with lots of rodents and unfortunately feathered critters to devour. I have taken in 6 cats over the years but have reached the limit as Vet and food bills are getting harder and harder to pay out of my pension and a small savings from my 60 years of being gainfully employed. This is the first year that guaranteed a bird has been caught and killed EVERY single day for me to find when I am outside early in the morning to fill the feeders. I don’t want to kill the birds but am part of the horror. What can I do other than just removing the feeders? I do so love all of nature has to offer and the hawk I finally spotted this morning on my Service Berry bush is not very big in size but obviously in appatite – probably feeding offsprings. Being part of killing a bird/day cannot continue so I am hoping you have some advice on how for me. It is much appreciated and thank you in advance. Gratefully, Doris H.
Not sure what it is you’re asking me to put here as I have pretty much said everything above. Let me know how I can help?
Thanks again and looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
Doris
My watch area surrounding my feeders are dominated by House sparrows. Whenever I see a bird with a somewhat different shape or behavior I will check them out with my binoculars. I am very familiar with local birds so something that is not common stands out to me. Today I had a Brown Thrasher, a very uncommon bird in central Illinois this late in the season.
I have been trying to get my access problems solved for more than a month with no success. Very disappointing.
Suggest to me that my Feederwatch data isn’t really a priority for you
Hello George, please reach out to us via email at feederwatch@cornell.edu for any help with your account or app. Please note that since the beginning of the season our inboxes have been overflowing as it is a very busy time of year, so we appreciate your patience with us.