February 21, 2012

Counting Birds

The Great Backyard Bird Count ended yesterday, and as of yesterday morning here's how many birds I counted in the backyard of our new house:


That's right. Zip. Zilch. Nada. A big fat goose egg, so to speak.

I had set up the bird feeders a week or two earlier, knowing that it takes time for a new feeder to be "discovered". Day after day I could hear chickadees and jays high above in the giant fir trees across the alley, taunting me, but not one made an appearance.

Then yesterday afternoon, as the Bird Count was drawing to its close after four
days of disappointment, I pulled into the driveway after doing an errand. What was that? Did I see a tiny flicker of motion near one of the feeders in the lilac bush?

Yes!! It was a chickadee!!! A chestnut-backed chickadee, my new best friend! Alert the Bird Count folks! Add one more chickadee to the Oregon tally!! I hope they are as thrilled as I am! Woohoo!

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Enjoy!


2 comments:

Birdie said...

When I first moved into my new house it took a while for the birds to show up. We have so many now (to the delight of my cat who watches them through the window) that we are needing to refill the feeder every 2 days It is a big feeder!

Chrissykat said...

That happened to me too & took just over three weeks to get regular visitors. I love your lone little chickadee...so pretty!