HOW TO COUNT THE : Easy as 1-2-3!

1) Count birds anywhere you like for at LEAST 15 minutes—or for as long as you wish. Keep track of the kinds of birds you see and how long you watched.

2) Make your best estimate of how many birds you saw of each species. For example, 5 Northern Cardinals, 3 American Crows. Huge flocks may be a challenge, but your best guess is still valuable.

3) Enter your list(s) online at www.birdcount.org. Put in a new checklist: --for each new day --for each different location --for the same location, same day, if you counted at a different time of day

Note: There are three ways to enter your lists at www.birdcount.org 1) Merlin Bird ID app 2) eBird Mobile app 3) eBird web page (desktops and laptops) Look for more detailed instructions on the Great Backyard Bird Count website.

Note: You can start entering bird lists at midnight local time on the first day of the count, anywhere in the world. Data entry remains open until March 1, but the information you enter should only be from the four days of the Great Backyard Bird Count.

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Easy! Read ahead for specific details about how to set up a free account and enter your lists. If you already have a Cornell Lab account for eBird, Merlin Bird ID, Project Feederwatch, Nestwatch, etc. or, you can simply use that login information.

CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT If you have never participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count before, or have not participated since before 2013, you’ll need to set up an account. Merlin Bird ID app, eBird Mobile app or eBird.org will walk you through the process of setting up an account. You will be asked to provide your name and email and choose a personal username and password. Additional profile information is optional.

ENTERING DATA The directions below pertain to uploading data into eBird on a desktop or laptop computer. The process is similar on eBird Mobile app except your location is calculated for you if your phone as a GPS system.

Map Your Location Log in to your account on the device you are using.

— On the first screen, which asks “Where did you bird?” go to the “Find it on a map” field and enter just your state or province (in the U.S. and Canada) and press enter.

— The map will open. You can then zoom in further by entering the exact address for your birding location in the white space along the top edge of the map. Note, if you are using a mobile device, it will automatically find your location.

— After the map zooms in to your location, click your mouse on that spot, and a green marker will drop there.

— Name this new location in the window in the right column. These names are public on some maps, so it’s best to use something you will recognize but does not give away private information such as an exact home address.

In the future, you will find this location in the drop-down menu under “Choose from your locations" on the “Where did you bird?” page, so you don’t have to map it again—just click on it and then continue. If you are birding in a public park, refuge, or lake, check the name of existing red pins (hotspots) and if one of them matches the area you went birding, you can just click that to select it and enter your counts instead of adding another pin.

Adding A New Location Log in to your account and go to the “Find It On a Map” field on the “Where did bird?” page. You’ll follow the same process as detailed above and this new location will be added to the drop-down menu under “Choose from Your Locations.”

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NOTE: You cannot remove a location from the menu if there is any data associated with it from past counts.

Tip: If you don’t want your name to appear on the maps with your birding location(s), go to “Profile” and put “Anonymous” in the “First Name” field, and “eBirder” in the “Last Name” field.

Date & Effort Fill in the date for the checklist you are submitting and indicate the type of count you did:

1. Traveling: You traveled some distance—walking a trail, driving a refuge loop, field birding; the eBird Mobile app can now trace and measure your route automatically! 2. Stationary: You stayed in one place, perhaps watching your feeders from a window 3. Incidental: You saw a bird while you were doing something else—birding was not your main activity

Enter your start time, how much total time you spent counting birds, and how many people contributed to this checklist.

TIP: If you get an error message telling you to enter an integer (whole number) in the time section, check to be sure you haven’t put in a colon or other punctuation mark in one of the boxes. Be sure to choose A.M. or P.M.

Enter Your Birds Next, you will see a list of birds that could be in your area during February. In the boxes, enter your estimate for the number of individuals of each species you saw while you were counting. Use an “x” if you can’t estimate the number.

Other Tools Find these tools in the column on the right side of the page.

• Put the species list in alphabetical order (they are in taxonomic order by default).

• Show or hide rare species for your area.

Are You Reporting Everything? It’s important to let us know if you are reporting all the species you were able to identify. You should always choose “Yes” in the right-hand column, unless you are leaving out some species on purpose.

Rare Birds If you have a bird on your list that you don’t find on the main checklist, click "show rare species" in the right column. If the species is not there either, go to “Add a Species” to type

3 the species’ name and add it to the list. You can only do this through the eBird website.

Flagged Reports If you enter a species or a number of birds that is unusual, you will get a message asking you to confirm your report. If you’re certain about what you saw, click the “complete” button. Your report will go to a person who reviews reports from your area. This is a normal part of the process. You may even be contacted by the reviewer to get more details about your report.

Giving More Details If you do see something unusual, please tell us more about how you identified the bird. Look for the small “add details” button next to the bird name. It’s VERY helpful if you have a digital photo.

Submit Your List Hit the “Submit” button on the lower-right when you’re done. You’ll see a confirmation page that shows the list you submitted.

Submit Another List If you have another list, select links on the right that allow you to submit from the same location and date, submit from the same area etc.

Correcting/Changing a Report You can always go back to make changes to your checklists, location, or profile. Log in to your account and click on the “My eBird” tab on either the Great Backyard Bird Count or eBird websites. You’ll see a summary of the data you’ve submitted. On the right side of the page, click “Manage My Observations” to choose individual records to edit. Choose “Manage Locations” to move or rename your mapped birding location(s).

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The Great Backyard Bird Count February 12-15 Ÿ birdcount.org

Waterfowl Grouse, Quail, and Allies Hawk ______Domestic goose sp. (Domestic type) ______Ring-necked Pheasant ______Red-tailed Hawk (borealis) ______Snow Goose ______Ring-necked Pheasant (Ring- ______Red-tailed Hawk (abieticola) ______Canada Goose necked) ______Rough-legged Hawk ______goose sp. ______Ruffed Grouse ______Buteo sp. ______Mute Swan ______Wild Turkey ______hawk sp. ______Tundra Swan ______Trumpeter/Tundra Swan Loons and Grebes Rails, Gallinules, and Allies ______Muscovy Duck (Domestic type) ______Red-throated Loon ______American Coot ______Gadwall ______Common Loon ______American Black Duck ______loon sp. Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers ______Mallard ______Pied-billed Grebe ______Ring-billed Gull ______Mallard (Domestic type) ______Horned Grebe ______Herring Gull ______American Black Duck x Mallard ______Red-necked Grebe ______Herring Gull (American) (hybrid) ______Iceland Gull ______Northern Pintail Cormorants, Anhingas, and Pelicans ______Iceland Gull (kumlieni) ______dabbling duck sp. ______Double-crested Cormorant ______Glaucous Gull ______Canvasback ______Great Black-backed Gull ______Redhead Herons, Ibis, and Allies ______Larus sp. ______Ring-necked Duck ______Great Blue Heron ______gull sp. ______Greater Scaup ______Lesser Scaup Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Pigeons and Doves ______Greater/Lesser Scaup ______Turkey Vulture ______Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) ______Aythya sp. ______Northern Harrier ______Mourning Dove ______White-winged Scoter ______Northern Harrier (American) ______scoter sp. ______Cooper's Hawk Owls ______Long-tailed Duck ______Accipiter sp. ______Eastern Screech-Owl ______Bufflehead ______Bald Eagle ______Great Horned Owl ______Common Goldeneye ______Red-tailed ______Barred Owl ______Hooded Merganser ______Short-eared Owl ______Common Merganser ______Northern Saw-whet Owl ______Red-breasted Merganser ______Ruddy Duck ______duck sp. Kingfishers Sparrows and other Emberizids ______Belted Kingfisher ______Red-breasted ______American Tree Sparrow ______White-breasted Nuthatch ______Dark-eyed Junco Woodpeckers ______White-breasted Nuthatch (Eastern) ______Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) ______Red-bellied Woodpecker ______White-throated Sparrow ______Downy Woodpecker Treecreepers ______Song Sparrow ______Downy Woodpecker (Eastern) ______Brown Creeper ______Swamp Sparrow ______Hairy Woodpecker ______sparrow sp. ______Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern) Wrens ______Northern Flicker ______Winter Wren Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies ______Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) ______Carolina Wren ______Northern Cardinal ______Pileated Woodpecker Kinglets Blackbirds Falcons and Caracaras ______Golden-crowned Kinglet ______Red-winged Blackbird ______American Kestrel ______Rusty Blackbird ______Merlin Thrushes ______Brown-headed Cowbird ______Peregrine Falcon ______Eastern ______American Robin Finches, Euphonias, and Allies Shrikes ______House Finch ______Northern Shrike Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers ______Purple Finch ______Northern Mockingbird ______Purple Finch (Eastern) Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens ______Common Redpoll ______Blue Jay Starlings and Mynas ______Common Redpoll (flammea) ______American Crow ______European Starling ______Pine Siskin ______Fish Crow ______American Goldfinch ______crow sp. Waxwings ______finch sp. ______Common Raven ______Cedar Waxwing Old World Sparrows Larks Longspurs and Snow Buntings ______House Sparrow ______Horned Lark ______Snow Bunting Others Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice ______passerine sp. ______Black-capped Chickadee ______Tufted Titmouse

Great Backyard Bird Count Common North American Birds Tally Sheet What does it look like? How many are there? American Robin

Dark-eyed Junco

Mourning Dove

European Starling

Blue Jay

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal What does it look like? How many are there?

Eastern Bluebird

American Crow

Chickadee (Black-capped or Carolina)

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

Other Sharp-Shinned Hawk & Cooper's Hawk

These two hawks regularly hunt birds visiting feeders in winter. In many areas, the larger Cooper’s hawk tends to be the more frequently observed species. Aside from its smaller size, the sharp-shinned hawk also lacks white tips on the ends of its tail feathers. In both species, the females are larger than the males. How to Tell the Difference

Sharp-Shinned Hawk (adult) Cooper's Hawk (adult) • Size: 10" - 14” long • Size: 14" - 20" long • Body: Slim and bluish-gray on back; rusty underparts • Body: Robust and bluish-gray on back; rusty underparts • Head: Tends to be smoothly rounded, no blackish on top • Head: Tends to be squarish (sometimes with crested appearance) • Tail: Tends to appear square-ended without prominent white tips to and blackish on top end of feathers • Tail: Tends to appear long and rounded at end with prominent white tips to end of feathers

Sharp-Shinned Hawk (juvenile) Cooper's Hawk (juvenile) • Body: Slim and brown on back; heavy streaks on underparts • Body: Robust and brown on back; fine streaks on chest and • Head: Tends to be smoothly rounded mid-breast • Tail: Appears square-ended without prominent white tips • Head: Tends to be squarish and sometimes slightly crested; tawny in color • Tail: Appears long and rounded with prominent white tips to end of feathers Chipping Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, & House Sparrow Sparrows are notoriously difficult to identify, but with a close look are actually quite distinctive. The chipping sparrow is actually quite unusual in Massachusetts in winter, so any sparrow with a rusty cap at a feeder is most likely an American tree sparrow. Abundantly common in urban areas, city sidewalks, and parks, house sparrow females are often seen with the distinctive, black-throated male. How to Tell the Difference

Chipping Sparrow (male & female) American Tree Sparrow (male & female) • Head: Rusty cap, white stripe over eye, black line through eye • Head: Rusty cap, bill dark above and yellow below • Breast: Plain, no streaks or dark central spot • Breast: Plain with a dark central spot

House Sparrow (male) House Sparrow (female) • Head: Gray crown and rusty on back of head; con- spicuous black throat • Head: Plain brownish with dull stripe behind eye • Breast: Plain underparts without streaks; conspicuous • Breast: Plain underparts and single white bar on wing single white bar on the wing Purple Finch & At most feeders, a house finch is likely to be more common than purple finch. House finches also tend to be noisier than purple finches, often chirping loudly when visiting feeders. How to Tell the Difference

Purple Finch (male) House Finch (male) • Body: Chunky, bull-headed and short-tailed • Color: Raspberry red with little or no distinct belly • Body: Slim, small-headed and long-tailed streaking • Color: Rose or brick red with streaks on belly

Purple Finch (female) House Finch (female) • Body: Chunky, bull-headed and short-tailed • Color: Prominent whitish stripe over and behind eye • Body: Slim, small-headed and long-tailed • Color: Brownish head lacking stripe over eye Hairy Woodpecker & Downy Woodpecker

Hairy woodpeckers (9¼”) are much bigger than downy woodpeckers (6¾”), and their are considerably longer in relation to their head. Also, downy woodpeckers typically show small, dark bars or spots on their white, outer tail feathers. How to Tell the Difference

Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker • Size: About 6¾" long • : Much shorter in relation to head size • Size: About 9¼" long • Beak: Nearly the same length as the head Information courtesy of • Backyard Winter Bird Survey February 13 & 14, 2021

Thank you for participating! Please read the detailed instructions included with this mailing. Complete one survey form for the weekend, not separate ones for each day. Please check off a date or your results cannot be used.

 I can’t participate in the survey this year Name ______but please keep me on the mailing list.

Mailing Address ______ I am a minor.

City ______My e-mail: ______State ______Zip ______(Please print) ______

Don’t forget to fill in the date!

CHECK OFF Date(s) observed: 2/13 2/14 — REQUIRED. Hours watched #______(estimate as closely as possible) Watch Location (Road/Street): ______Town: ______Brief comments: (i.e., weather, etc.) ______SPECIES MAX# SPECIES MAX# SPECIES MAX# Wild Turkey Red-breasted Nuthatch Common Redpoll Rock Pigeon White-breasted Nuthatch Pine Siskin Brown Creeper American Goldfinch Red-bellied Woodpecker American Tree Sparrow Downy Woodpecker Eastern Bluebird White-throated Sparrow Hairy Woodpecker American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Pileated Woodpecker Northern Mockingbird Northern Cardinal Blue Jay European Starling American Crow Cedar Waxwing Black-capped Chickadee House Sparrow Tufted Titmouse House Finch Red Squirrel Gray Squirrel (Use blank spaces above for other species. Attach details to document unusual or confusing species.) Help Support the 2021 Backyard Winter Bird Survey Yes – I’d like to support the survey with a donation (see reverse for Gift). Enclosed is my contribution of:  $25  $50 (Free Gift)  $100 (Free Gift)  $250 (Free Gift)  Other ______

You do not need to be a member to contribute, but we welcome new members and appreciate your support for NH Audubon’s mission to protect New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people. Yes – I’d like to become a member of NH Audubon. Please send me my new member packet.  Senior/Student $29  Individual $45  Family $59  Contributor $100  Already a Member  Enclosed is my check payable to NH Audubon.  Visa  MC Exp. Date ______Acct No. ______For Office Use Only Signature ______Phone: ______ XLS

 I wish this gift to remain anonymous.  RE

mail this form to: NH Audubon, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301  Birds phone (603) 224-9909 www.nhaudubon.org Survey results may also be submitted online at https://nhbirdrecords.org/bwbs-online-data-entry/ Backyard Winter Bird Survey February 13 & 14, 2021

Backyard Winter Bird Survey participants report Additional and unusual species any bird species visiting their yard and/or feeders in Use the blank lines to record any additional species New Hampshire on the second weekend of February. observed. These are often uncommon species. Please Originally begun over 50 years ago as the “Cardinal- include a detailed description of the bird’s appearance Tufted Titmouse Survey,” it was expanded in 1987 to and behavior. Photographs are always helpful. E-mail gather data on the distribution and abundance of all them to [email protected]; be sure to include

backyard winter bird species in New Hampshire. your name and address in your e-mail and note on your survey form that you’ve e-mailed a photo. With- COVID-19 Safety out this documentation, unusual reports may not be While the Survey can be done in your own home, it’s included in the final tally. still important to be safe. NH Audubon requests that all Survey participants follow social distance and oth- Birds you can’t identify er state and federal recommendations. If you don’t know the names of all the birds visiting your yard, you can still participate, but please record When to watch only the species you can identify. February 13 and 14 only. Watch and count the birds in your yard at any time during the weekend. Remem- Confusing species ber to check off the date. We can’t assume you did Please be sure you can distinguish between similar the survey on the correct weekend (not everyone species, such as Purple and House Finches, Chipping does). Data protocols require a date so please fill it in and American Tree Sparrows, and the Sharp-Shinned for your data to be valid. and Cooper’s Hawks. A current field guide can help. Remember that the House Finch is more common than How long to watch the Purple Finch (except in Coos County) and Chip- Watch as little or as long as you wish during the sur- ping Sparrows will be in their winter plumage. Send vey weekend. Be sure to record the total number of descriptive details of Chipping Sparrow or Purple hours you observed. Approximate as closely as possi- Finch sightings. ble. For example, if you were home all day, but only watched for five minutes every hour, your time will Survey results be 45 minutes. The survey reports are computerized over the spring and summer, with final interpretation in the fall. All How to count birds and squirrels participants receive a copy of the results with next Record only the maximum number of each species year’s forms when they are mailed in January. The seen at one time. Do not add to your total each time results are also posted on the web site. you see a bird at the feeder. For example, at 10:00AM you see six Blue Jays, at 2:00PM you count seven, Other notes and at 5:00PM you count four, your survey total for Please fill out the entire form including dates. Blue Jays is seven. Even if you did not see any birds, Your mailing address and zip code are necessary to mark the survey card accordingly and send it in just ensure that you remain on the survey mailing list. the same. Count squirrels the same way. You can enter your Survey results online.

What birds are in my “backyard”? Donations Count and record whatever birds you can see from Contributions make this survey possible. Please con- your backyard – they could be at your feeder, flying sider enclosing a donation with your survey. Donate overhead, or swimming in the river bordering your $50 or more and receive the revised and colorful New yard. If you can see it while standing in your house or Hampshire Yardlist for keeping track of all the bird yard, you can report it. If you watch from more than species you see in your yard and for making your time one residence, use separate forms for each location. at home more fun.

https://nhbirdrecords.org/backyard-winter-bird-survey/ (Page 2) Conservation Notes 2018 Summary of Conservation Department Activities February 9-10, 2019 Backyard Winter Bird Survey is Coming! by Rebecca Suomala

12,000 his annual Survey began in 1987 and thanks to over T1,300 volunteers who participate each year, our biologists can see what’s happening with New Hampshire’s resident 10,000 bird populations. For example, last winter many people were

concerned about the absence of Black-capped Chickadees 8,000 while at the same time remarking on all the juncos at their feeders, so we looked at these two species in detail. 6,000 The graphs show that it was indeed a record year for Dark-

eyed Juncos (Figure 1). Although Black-capped Chickadees Number of Birds were record low, the numbers don’t indicate a population 4,000 crash. Several other years were low and there is great

variability (Figure 2), but the species bears watching. Birds 2,000 may have spent more time in the woods taking advantage of the excellent natural food crops last winter (the same crops 0 that gave us lots of gray squirrels) and less time at feeders. 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 There’s more on the chickadee phenomenon in the 2018 Year survey summary. Figure 1. Black-capped Chickadee numbers on the Backyard Past participants receive last year’s results with their 2019 Winter Bird Survey, 1987-2018. The record low of 5,076 in forms in the mail in January. You can also report online or print 2018 is very close to the next lowest year of 5,171 in 2000, out the survey form from the website. It’s easy to do–just count indicating that Black-capped Chickadees show periodic ups and the birds in your backyard on the survey weekend and send the downs. Those years with lower numbers may reflect good food results on the form or on-line. Remember to report, even if you supplies in the woods or lower reproductive success the previous don’t have many birds! Check the web for more information. To summer, or possibly a combination of the two. We’ll have more receive a packet in the mail, call NH Audubon. details in the Backyard Winter Bird Survey’s 2018 Results summary. Photo by Rebecca Suomala.

25,000 Salisbury, where a Cerulean set up a territory in 1998 and 1999. On our first 2018 visit we heard a possible Cerulean song, but because we were surveying by kayak 20,000 we could not search out the bird. The singing bird was not found during a return visit on foot, so there’s another place to check in 2019! 15,000 There is a slightly happier ending to this story, however, since in early June other birders found 10,000 Ceruleans at Pawtuckaway and Wantastiquet. These Number of Birds records – one date for each location – give some small hope that the species persists in the state, although we 5,000 don’t know if either bird remained to nest. Birders are encouraged to continue searching these two locations

more thoroughly and throughout the breeding season. 0 If you do look, please be considerate of the species’ 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 threatened status and avoid the excessive use of tapes Year in an attempt to lure birds closer. If you are interested Figure 2. Dark-eyed Junco numbers on the Backyard Winter in volunteering, contact me at [email protected], Bird Survey, 1987-2018. The 2018 total of 22,303 was a record 603-224-9909 x328. high on the Survey and even when we look at juncos by observer, Funding for Cerulean Warbler monitoring comes both years still show dramatically high peaks compared to the from a contract with the NH Fish & Game Department. other years. Photo by Bob Basile.

WINTER 2018-19 NH AUDUBON AFIELD 9 Conservation Notes 2019 Summary of Conservation Department Activities

Bohemian Waxwings, by Scott Heron.

The Ups and Downs of Birds at are already beginning migration, but others, including young and adult birds, are undergoing molt and become very secretive. Your Feeder The mast crop of nuts, and berries was excellent and birds by Rebecca Suomala had lots of natural food in the woods and fields. They were likely rom lots of birds to no birds, the activity at bird feeders foraging away from feeders until the arrival of cold and snow. is always changing. Last winter feeders were quiet and F 10,000 we received many questions about what was “going on with the birds.” When that happens, we turn to NH Audubon’s annual NH Backyard Winter Bird Survey and look at 8,000 the more than 30 years of data to help us figure out the patterns of ups and downs in our feeder birds. 6,000 What was going on? In the fall of 2018 the natural food supply was exceptionally poor (remember all the squirrels 4,000 Number Number of Birds crossing roads to find food?). That meant some birds left last winter. Blue Jays are linked to acorn crops and with so 2,000 few acorns, they headed south for better feeding. We were also missing the Dark-eyed Juncos which were so abundant 0 in the winter of 2017-18. They returned to their typical 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 wintering areas farther south in the absence of good natural Year food crops in New Hampshire. Goldfinches were scarce for Figure 1. Number of Black-capped Chickadees on NH the same reason. Many people were lucky enough to have Audubon’s annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey, 1987-2019. Evening Grosbeaks at their feeders. We also saw more Pine Grosbeaks in some areas. Other northern visitors such as the Common Redpoll and Pine Siskin never appeared in What Will Happen This Winter? large numbers, despite quite a few reports. Help Us Find Out! We’ve been following Black-capped Chickadees closely after their record low on the 2018 Survey. Evidence BWBS: February 8-9, 2020 indicated they were in the woods eating the abundant natural food supplies and staying away from feeders, but it he Backyard Winter Bird Survey (BWBS) is open to also appeared that they had a poor breeding season in 2017 Teveryone. It’s a great way to have fun watching birds and make so there were fewer of them around to begin with. The a vital contribution to our knowledge. It’s easy to do – just count Survey shows that their numbers fluctuate widely over time the birds in your backyard on the Survey weekend and send in with low years followed by high peaks. Numbers were up the results on a special reporting form or report online. We need on the 2019 Survey (Figure 1) but only slightly, so we’ll be as many participants as possible all over the state. Check the NH continuing to watch them closely. Audubon website for more details on how to participate or to make For those whose birds seemed to vanish in the middle a donation to support the Survey. of this summer – we don’t always know why this happens, To receive a packet in the mail, email [email protected] or but it’s a time when nesting is wrapping up. Some birds call NH Audubon at 603-224-9909. WINTER 2019-20 NH AUDUBON AFIELD 3 Create a Bird- Friendly Habitat

Birding is enjoyed by more than 45 million across DID YOU KNOW 96% OF SONGBIRDS 1 DEPEND ON CATERPILLARS AS A the United States . You can go birding just outside FOOD SOURCE TO SURVIVE? AND your door by planting a bird-friendly garden. A PAIR OF CAROLINA CHICKADEES REQUIRES BETWEEN 6,000 It starts by planting native plants that offer natural bird foods such AND 9,000 CATERPILLARS TO as seeds, berries, nuts and nectar, as well as the insects birds feed SUCCESSFULLY RAISE JUST ONE their babies. You can add some supplemental feeders, a birdbath BROOD OF YOUNG. IT’S IMPORTANT and nesting boxes and birds from colorful songbirds to acrobatic TO PLANT NATIVE TREES AND will be ready to move in. Many bird species are PLANTS TO SUPPORT OTHER BIRDS declining and planting for birds can help bolster their populations. AND WILDLIFE. A NATIVE OAK TREE CAN SUPPORT THE CATERPILLARS Find plants native to your area at nwf.org/NativePlantFinder. OF OVER 500 SPECIES OF BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS.

Learn NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION / 11100 WILDLIFE CENTER DRIVE, RESTON, VA 20190 / NWF.ORG/GARDEN more Tips & Info

1. Plant Natives. Plant a variety of native plants – trees, shrubs and flowers – to offer food in the form of seeds, berries, nuts, and nectar. Learn more about 7. Add Birdhouses. Install nesting boxes, also called plants native to your area at nwf.org/nativeplants. “birdhouses,” to offer cavity-nesting species a 2. Eliminate Insecticides. Don’t spray insecticides. place to raise young. Boxes should have the right Insects are the primary source of food for most bird size entry hole and dimensions for the species species and are a critical source of protein and fats you are trying to attract, as well as ventilation for their babies. Learn more about avoiding pesti- holes near the top and drainage holes below. cides at nwf.org/sustainability. Mount the box at the natural nesting height for the bird species. 3. Provide Water. A simple birdbath is a great start. Birds require clean water, so change it every 2-3 days, 8. Prevent Window Strikes - Many birds are killed this also prevents mosquitoes. Use a heater in the when they fly into windows. Prevent bird strikes winter. Place 10 feet from dense shrubs or other by marking or covering windows with bird tape, cover that predators may use. stickers, netting, or screens. Also, turn lights off at night, which disorient migrating birds. 4. Build a Brush Pile. Start with larger logs and top with smaller branches. Some birds will hunt, roost or even 9. Keep Your Cat Indoors. Free-roaming domesti- nest in brush piles. cated cats kill billions of wild birds every year. Bells placed around an outdoor cat’s neck does 5. Remove Invasive Non-Native Plants. Invasive plants not help. out-compete native species and destroy bird habitat. To find a list of invasive plants in your region go to 10. Go Up. Take your bird-friendly habitat vertical by the USDA National Invasive Species Information Cen- planting native trees. One tree can provide food, ter invasivespeciesinfo.gov/subject/lists. cover and places for birds and other wildlife and double the size of your habitat on the ground. 6. Keep Snags. Standing dead trees called snags pro-vide cavity-nesting birds with places to raise 11. Fill a Feeder. Bird feeders can supplement nat- young, shelter from bad weather, and a source of ural food sources and create great bird viewing insects for food. Learn more about snags at: opportunities. nwf.org/treesandsnags.

1. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, 2016 NATIONAL SURVEY OF FISHING, HUNTING, AND WILDLIFE- ASSOCIATED RECREATION.

Join the Garden for Wildlife Movement! Photo Credits: Page 1: Bluebird – Join the growing movement of people making a Leslie Scopes Anderson; Grey Bird difference for wildlife where they live, work, learn, – Beth Diggs; 2 birds – Laura O’Toole; worship, and play! Just go to nwf.org/garden. – Saija Lehtonen Page 2: Indigo Bunting – David Sloas

Birdseed Cookie Winter Bird Feeder Ingredients:

· 1/4 cup water · 1 packet unflavored gelatin · 1.5 cups birdseed · Muffin/cupcake pan · Non-stick cooking spray · Straws · Twine/String

How to Make Birdseed Cookies:

1: Sprinkle 1 packet of gelatin into 1/4 cup of water. 2: Let sit for about 1 minute. 3: Heat water and gelatin mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds (until hot, but not boiling). Carefully stir. 4: Add the birdseed to the gelatin mixture and stir until mixed well. 5: Spay a muffin pan with non-stick cooking oil (I used coconut oil). 6: Spoon the birdseed/gelatin mixture into the muffin tin (ours didn’t fill all of the sections of our pan). Press and flatten each one. 7: Push a piece of a straw into each, making sure it reaches the bottom. Don’t put them too close to the edge because the edge is weaker. You may even want to put the straw directly through the center. Press around the straw to make sure it’s secure. 8: Put the muffin pan into the refrigerator for at least 3 hours. The birdseed cookies should be hardened when set. Don’t take them out before they are hardened! 9: Take the birdseed cookies out of the pan. I used a butter knife to slide along the edge and they popped out easily that way. 10: Remove the straw and tie a string through the hole. 11: Hang on a tree outside and watch the birds enjoy their treat!

Tips for hanging these birdseed cookie bird feeders:

· It is best to only use these bird feeders during winter months when it is cold outside so they don’t go bad. · Be sure to hang the birdseed cookies at least 5 feet off of the ground so dogs and other animals can’t reach them. · Try hanging them in different areas around the yard, like trees and shrubs. · Be sure to avoid areas that get a lot of strong wind and rain. · Hang near another branch so the birds have a place to sit and eat

https://www.creativelittleexplorers.com/making-birdseed-cookies-diy-winter-bird-feeder/

What birds were you able to spot? Take a picture of a bird eating your birdseed cookie and send it to [email protected]. We’ll post them on social media! YARN BIRD

Items Supplied by library: Yarn – 3-4 different colors Chenille Wire (orange & brown) Paper Pattern Beads – 2 black, medium size,

You will also need: Small piece of paper (half of letter size) Craft glue or Needle and black thread Scissors Craft pliers

Instructions:

Step 1 Take different colored yarns and wrap them around the cardboard patterns lengthwise. Keep wrapping them until they are thick enough (1cm thickness on each side should work)

Hold the yarns on the cardstock firmly and cut any one side. Doing so you will get a group of yarn strands. The group of yarns will double lengthwise than the cardstock papers after cutting one side. Step 2 Take the longer bunch of yarn and place it on a flat surface horizontally. Take one of the shorter bunches and place it on the longer bunch vertically, right in the middle, creating a cross.

Fold the longer bunch in half, wrapping the shorter bunch. Take a small strand of yarn and tie it around the half folded yarn group tightly adjacent to the fold.

Now fold the short bunch in half, take a small strand and tie it around the half folded yarn group tightly adjacent to the fold. Make sure that the edges of both half folded yarn groups are leveled.

Step 3 Take the remaining short bunch and place it below the tied yarns from the previous step. The folded parts of the previous tied yarn groups should be facing upwards.

Take a small piece of paper (half of A4 sized paper). Crumple the piece of paper and squeeze it to make it small. The size of the birds body would depend on the size of the crumpled paper.

Place the crumpled paper in between the 3 group of yarns as shown in the last picture of this step. Step 4 After placing the crumpled paper in between the yarn groups hold the open ends of the yarn groups together tightly.

Take a small piece of any colored strand and tightly tie it around that end to join all the yarn groups together.

Trim the end of the yarn groups to level them.

Step 5 Attach 2 black beads on both sides of the birds head using needle and matching thread or glue.

Fold the end of the orange chenille wire to create the beak. Glue the beak on its place.

Use brown chenille wire to make the legs. Attach the legs by bending the open ends of the legs and inserting it through the yarns of the lower part.

Tada! Use different colored yarns to make different patterned birds. Hope you enjoy making one. Happy crafting!

Note: This pattern and photos came from a great website called thecraftaholicwitch.com. We made a few changes to the craft to simplify it for you, using chenille wire for the beak and the legs. Below is a photo of our creation!