The first time I saw a wood duck I was awestruck. I had seen pictures of them yes, but seeing one was unreal. At first I wondered if I was seeing a live duck…it just sat there moving with the water.You might check to see if they are in your location. In the US, it seems the largest concentration is in the Southeast, though they certainly can be found in other areas…for instance, I’m in the Pacific Northwest.

To get more ID information on them, visit http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i1440id.html

Happy Birding!

There are very few things as enjoyable as setting up a bird feeder and watching the activities of the different types of birds that come to feed. What birds come to your feeder will be in a large part determined by where you live. But even if you live in a city, you could be surprised by the occasional migrating bird that stops by for a quick meal. What type of feeder and what type of food you supply will also play a role in what birds you attract to your feeder.

When you first go looking for a bird feeder you will soon find there are almost as many choices as there are species of birds. There is a simple way of choosing a bird feeder though so don’t let the variety get you down. Deciding what the birds you want to visit your feeder eats is one part of the puzzle. Do you have squirrels in your yard that can steal the food? Also where will you be placing the feeder? Answering those three simple questions will get you on the right path in the beginning, now let’s look at some of the different types of feeders and narrow your choice down a little further.

Read more about Understanding Bird Feeders

Glen Hoge wrote a poem about bird-watching,
“Birding is an addiction that is for sure.
For which I am sure there is no cure.
So, I guess I will keep doing it for the rest of my life.
Right beside my bird watching wife.”

Read about the this couples approach to birding.

Happy Birding!

2,000-mile birding trail awaits tourists - OrlandoSentinel.com: Tourism

Wow…rare hummingbirds; endangered wood storkes, burrowing owls. What a treat.

If you are in the Florida, or heading in that direction, it would be worth it to check out this new trail.

Happy Birding!

Greetings Bird Lovers!

The Great Backyard Bird Count returns for its ninth season February 17-20, 2006. The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology encourage everyone to COUNT BIRDS WITH A BUDDY!

Bird enthusiasts of all ages can share their love of birds with a friend, a child, a scout troop, a class or a co-worker — opening new eyes to the joy of birding and fun of creating a unique snapshot of winter bird abundance and distribution across the continent.

Every pair of eyes is needed and ever birdy counts, whether in a backyard, on a high-rise balcony, in a park or on any of the 730 million acres of public lands.

Anyone with Internet access can see the results in maps and charts as the sightings pour in. In 2005, participants sent in more than 52,000 checklists with a record-breaking 613 species and more than 6 million birds counted!

In 2006, for the first time, the Lab of Ornithology and Audubon are launching an element of friendly competition. Awards will be given to localities that submit the most checklists, record the greatest number species or count the highest number of birds. Photos are also encouraged.

Everyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to seasoned experts. During the count bird watchers tally up birds for as little as 15 minutes or for as long as they like, keeping track of the highest number of each bird species they see together at one time.

Participants enter their numbers online at The Great Backyard Bird Count. This is the site to visit for details on exactly how to participate.

We hope that you will share this information with others and get as many participants as possible. This would be a great project for a scout troop or classroom.

It’s helpful to have a bird feeder out as soon as possible in advance of the event, so you will have an opportunity to identify ahead of time the birds that you will likely see during the count.

Visit WildBirdGoodies.com to order feeders now so you’ll have them as quickly as possible. We will process orders as soon as they are received.

We are excited about participating and can’t wait to watch the stats as they come in.

Happy Birding!

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About the Author

Janet Winter is a web designer, travel agent and writer on many topics. She loves her wild birds and delights in providing helpful resources and unique products for feathered friends at WildBirdGoodies.com.

Backyard bird feeding is a convenient way to enjoy wildlife. More than 65 million Americans of all ages watch, feed and landscape for birds.

It doesn’t matter where you live - in an apartment, townhouse or single family dwelling, in the city, suburbs or country. Just stand still and you’ll hear them: wild birds. It is hard to imagine life without them.

Bird watching is one of the fastest growing forms of outdoor recreation in the country. Each year millions of people discover for the first time the joys of birdwatching. It’s easy to understand why. Birds are fun to watch.

And you can watch them just about everywhere. The most convenient place to start is right in your own backyard. All it takes to get their attention is food or water, a place to build a nest and appropriate vegetation.