At least a few birds got counted

[nlbarber]

I didn't manage any bird-watching yesterday on the first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Did a little better today, basically while eating breakfast and again in the late afternoon. For a short while (right after I poured the milk on the cereal, in fact) there was all kinds of activity at the front feeders....and then the birds just left. None in the front yard, none in the back, and it stayed that way until I left for Jazzercise class almost an hour later. 'Tis a mystery.

Species and count:
Mourning Dove 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 1
Eastern Bluebird 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco 2
Northern Cardinal 2
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 7

With the JazzerThon tomorrow, I'll be limited again in my bird-count time, but I'll make another attempt anyway. Maybe I can have soggy cereal 2 days in a row for the bird count!

Comments

[kk1raven.livejournal.com]

The usual reason for the small birds all disappearing is that there is an accipter hanging out in the neighborhood. Watch for a Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk.

[nlbarber]

I did think of that, but it lasted for hours. My other guess was a change in the lighting--perhaps it went from cloudy to bright sun, and the change spooked them. Or maybe it was a hawk, and after the alarm was over it was past breakfast time...