Great Backyard Bird Count

Let it not be said that the romance has gone out of the Gulish marriage! After reading my last post, John immediately went out and bought a new snow shovel for me---a red one at that! Other wives should be so lucky. And I have already put it to good use as the 1-2" predicted snowfall turned out to be 4-5" here at Pittsgrove Farms.

After clearing the driveway, it was time to refill the bird feeders which reminded me that February 13-16, marks the date of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Details on the website explain how you can take part in helping in the effort to track bird populations throughout the USA. The count is made possible through a cooperative effort between Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The web site will also direct you to other sites with fun activities for kids and for expanding your own bird knowledge.


I will happily have two of my very favorite assistants with me for the first half of the count since our grand son and grand daughter will be with us for a week. They are already great naturalists, attend the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma on an almost weekly basis, feed the birds, and keep their squirrel buddy, Linus, in constant peanut supply.

I have recently received phone calls and emails asking about iris and peony plants that we will have for sale in the spring, so I know all of you plant lovers are anxious for winter to be over to enable you to trade your snow shovels for garden trowels. Let the bird count distract you for a few days and who knows---you may even see a robin!

Get those pads and pencils ready, and binoculars if you have them, although they won't really be needed since the count is as simple as looking out the window from the cozy confines of your home. Oh, and don't forget to put out some bird seed!