The Great Backyard Bird Count for 2014 is over, and I completed my final check this afternoon. Overall, it has not been a spectacular year here. I toted up 27 species (two hawks added today -- Red Tailed Hawk shown) and a minimum of 68 birds on the property. The gold winner was American Goldfinch, with at least 15 birds. House Finch held second place with 9, and Northern Cardinal with 8. I was disappointed not to see certain predicted species (Pine Warbler and Northern Flicker come to mind) and bird populations seemed awfully law. In fact for 22 species I never counted more than two birds. My methodology has not changed, so perhaps certain environmental conditions did. Were my feeders relatively less attractive? was weather (first icy, then moderately warm) a factor? Tomorrow I will file my seven lists and move on. Now I have some things to watch as spring unfolds.
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