We’re still getting over a dozen different species of birds at the feeders but most of them are the same ones that we’ve had for most of the winter so I’m going to do a bi-weekly feeder report instead of weekly. Observations of birds are noted for Project Feederwatch.

Project Feederwatch Highlights

Some of the notable highlights over the last two weeks have been a flock of about a dozen Bushtits – at the suet feeder and then gone in less than 5 minutes. I’m kind of curious why they don’t make more regular stops but I imagine that maybe they’re wandering around Courtenay on some sort of long circular route that arrives at our feeder every fourteen days or so. Or maybe it’s more complex than that.

Also this week was the brief appearance of a Northern Flicker. I’m still trying to figure out its behaviour as well. Each time it appears it makes a grand entrance, perches on the branch with the suet feeder, looks at it, and then leaves in an equally grand manner. Haven’t seen it try the suet yet.

Species List

Here’s the species list for the last two weeks:

• Dark-eyed Junco (including 1 Slate-coloured Junco)
• Chestnut-backed Chickadee
• Spotted Towhee
• House Finch
• Purple Finch
• Bewick’s Wren
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet (hasn’t shown up for several days now but was here earlier)
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• House Sparrow
• Pine Siskin
• European Starling
• American Goldfinch
• Downy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker

As part of Project FeederWatch, I’m keeping an eye on our feeders two days out of the week to help scientists track winter bird activity, abundance and diversity. It’s a great way to spend an hour or two drinking coffee and peering out into the rain. I’ve also decided to start a yard list of all the birds that visit our backyard.