Cooper's or Sharp-shinned Hawk?

It's not unusual to see one of these raptors around my yard--and near my bird feeders--especially when the weather is cold.

(Please click on individual photos...most of them will enlarge to show details)

2009

2009

I mean, every body (and bird!) needs to eat.

2009

2009

Fortunately I've never seen a hawk actually capture a bird although there have been a few close calls.

2009

2009

I've tried to ID these birds in the past but may have been incorrect at times. There are markers...but to me, they all seem so similar.

2010

Size is not a fool-proof way to tell the difference.

2010

2010

It is said that the Sharp-shinned hawk is more jay or dove sized, where-as the Cooper's hawk is crow sized or larger.

June 2010 (Taken through  family room window and then through 2 screens on the porch)

I've never seen one as small as a dove or jay, so I usually ID them as Cooper's hawks...but that's not to say I've been correct.

January 2011

January 2011

If you want to rack your brain and give it a shot, visit the Project Feederwatch Accipiter photo gallery and them come back and tell me what you think.

February 2011

Many of these photos have previously been published on my blog, but I'm putting them all here in one post to get your opinion and help me ID them.

(This post was also published at the Virginia Gardener Magazine online, 2/4/11).

Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble  @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/
 Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.

Upcoming Opportunities for Birdwatching Enthusiasts

Upcoming Opportunities for Birdwatching Enthusiasts
by Jan Doble - posted to the Virginia Gardener Magazine, 01/14/11

Carolina Wren and female Cardinal

If you enjoy watching the birds visit your feeders, now is a great time to start thinking about the Great Backyard Bird Count. A joint project between the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this annual event is open to both novice and expert bird watchers at no cost. Participants can choose to spend as little as 15 minutes per day or many hours each day, counting and recording the birds visiting their yards or even those seen while visiting a wildlife refuge. The program is designed to allow bird enthusiasts to serve as citizen scientists, sharing their counts with ornithologists "who cannot possibly document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time" on their own. It's both a fun and helpful activity so if you have an interest in joining in, you can learn more by visiting the Great Backyard Bird Count website. The program runs from February 18 to 21, 2011.

Eastern Bluebirds, Goldfinch and male Cardinal

This will be the third year that I'll participate in the event. Last year I even went a step further and joined Project Feeder Watch, a program lasting five months long. Project Feeder Watch, unlike the Great Backyard Bird Count, requires a small fee. It is more complex, requiring a more in-depth and longer-term level of commitment, from both the participants and the ornithologists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This year the program began on November 13th but since it runs through April 8, 2011, there is still plenty of time to sign up and join in. You can learn more by visiting the Project Feeder Watch website.

Goldfinch and Eastern male Bluebird

An even longer-term program, that runs throughout the length of the entire year, has been developed and has become very popular among bird enthusiasts. e-Bird is not just a national program but takes into account global counts and sightings. Also sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, it provides many perks and benefits to participants. Visit the e-Bird website to learn more.

Eastern Bluebirds and Northern Flicker

If you are feeding the birds and enjoy watching them, one (or all three) of these programs could be something you might take an interest in. Be sure to check them out and find out which one works best for you.

Words and photos ©Thanks for today.™, by Jan Huston Doble

Written by Jan @ http://www.thanksfor2day.blogspot.com/ Not to be reproduced or re-blogged without express permission of the author.

Project FeederWatch and Bird Count

I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count last year and again this year. In January I also joined and have been keeping a count with Project FeederWatch, a cooperative research project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada, the National Audubon Society and the Canadian Nature Federation. The FeederWatch season runs for 21 weeks, from November through April.  Participants may count birds for two consecutive days each week, and submit up to 21 bird counts, with at least FIVE days between each pair of count days. FeederWatch requires a participants fee ($15), without which the project could not continue.

Here are my results, with 3 counts reported so far.

Checklist for FeederWatch Virginia Birds

February 13, 2010 (Also the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count where I also submitted this data).

Red-bellied Woodpecker	2
Downy Woodpecker	3
Tufted Titmouse	1
Carolina Wren	1
Eastern Bluebird	16 *Confirmed
American Robin	5
European Starling	8
Northern Cardinal	4
House Finch	5
American Goldfinch	9

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
February 6, 2010:

Mourning Dove	8
Red-bellied Woodpecker	2
Downy Woodpecker	4
Hairy Woodpecker	2
Northern Flicker	2
Blue Jay	1
American Crow	3
Carolina Chickadee	1
Tufted Titmouse	2
Brown-headed Nuthatch	1
Brown Creeper	1
Carolina Wren	2
Eastern Bluebird	13 *Confirmed
American Robin	16
European Starling	3
Northern Cardinal	7
House Finch	7
American Goldfinch	5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 30, 2009:

Cooper's Hawk	2
Mourning Dove	9
Red-bellied Woodpecker	2
Downy Woodpecker	3
Hairy Woodpecker	1
Northern Flicker	1
Carolina Chickadee	1
Tufted Titmouse	2
Carolina Wren	1
Eastern Bluebird	14 *Confirmed
American Robin	17
Dark-eyed Junco	1
Northern Cardinal	13
House Finch	11
American Goldfinch	7

*Note the 'Confirmed' after each Eastern Bluebird entry. Each time I entered in my numbers, I was automatically 'flagged' and had to separately verify that I was not entering these numbers in error. The website explains that although the number seen might be a usual occurance in your own yard, it is 'unusual' for what is being reported in your general area.

I am not sure 'why' such a high number of Eastern Bluebirds are attracted to my yard--but I am not complaining!

At any given time, there are a variety of bird species in my yard all at once!





When I report 13, 14 or 16 Eastern Bluebirds, I am not referring to what I see 'on and off', tallying them them up to get a cumulative total. No, I'm referring to 5 Bluebirds on one birdfeeder, 2 Bluebirds on another feeder, 3 Bluebirds sitting on a pole, 1 Bluebird standing on a snowpile and eating the snow, and/or Bluebirds at one of the suet feeders...all at the same time.

I only report the total as 'the most of each variety that I actually see, all in my yard at one time'.

So, if I see 8 Bluebirds in the yard at 1:03, and at 1:28 I see 14 Bluebirds, I report my total for the day as 14.

That way, I don't risk counting the same bird more than once-which is very important for accurate data.

*See, I wasn't kidding about the bird standing on the snowpile...

....eating the snow;-)

Of course, we're not just talking bluebirds here. There are Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers...(they look very much alike, but the Hairy's are larger, and their beaks are just a bit longer). I don't believe I have any Hairy's in photos here, but I have had them at the feeders...

 Male and female Downy's:

American Robins...

Northern Cardinals...

Dark Eyed Juncos...

Tufted Titmice...





Carolina Wrens...

Red-bellied Woodpeckers...

Brown Creepers...

American Goldfinches...

Grackles...

Northern Flickers...

Hawk...

Starlings...

Carolina Chickadees...





Mourning Doves...

One of the birds I've seen very little of this year is the Blue Jay. I seem to remember having read something about others experiencing similar results. The same goes for the American Robin, but with just the opposite result. Similar to the Bluebirds, I've noticed a huge increase in their numbers this winter. Every so often there is what they call an 'irruption' of a particular species of birds. Last year, it was the Pine Siskin. There was an increase in their numbers in many areas. I have seen only a couple of Pine Siskins so far this year.

Hope you enjoyed my photos and the results of my count. It's 'ongoing' so I'm still sending in data.

Have a great day!

--Today I am thankful for the variety of birds that visit my yard, and for being able to share them through my blog.



Words and photos by Jan Huston DobleThanks For Today.