Birding

Where Are You Birding This Third Weekend of February 2012?

February 23, 2012 by Mike 9 Comments

Now that the Great Backyard Bird Count has ended, reports are rolling in from the Rio Grande Valley to Nunavut (thanks, Clare!) I’m wondering about how participation in an extreme or prolonged bird watching event affects interest in further birding. This question isn’t just apropos to North American birders but really to anyone who engages in Big Days, Big Years, Big Sits, and holiday-themed bird counts: do these events slake your thirst or further excite your appetite for birding?

Having locked in a lifer, albeit a drab one, last weekend leaves me satisfied to just admire the birds in my backyard this weekend. The cardinals have been whooping it up as new species stop by the feeder. Corey will be birding in the New York Capital Region while visiting his folks. How about you? What will you be doing this weekend and will you be birding? Share your plans in the comments below.

Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend!

Dawn breaks over Brooklyn as Corey embarks on a “three-hour tour“

Birding February

Written by Mike

Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.

9 Comments

Sonja Ross February 23, 2012 at 4:13 pm
I’m not doing anything special this weekend but went on a pelagic last weekend from Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia, and we had 7 Buller’s Albatross off the boat at one stage, and a real rarity for Australia, a Great Shearwater for a short time. Both of those were lifers. The Buller’s are a striking bird, and it was great to see them.
Judy February 23, 2012 at 5:43 pm
It’s a beautiful sunrise, made even moreso by those birds flying about in it!!
Peter B February 23, 2012 at 8:37 pm
That’s a really beautiful sunrise… Happy skywatching!
Tatjana Parkacheva February 24, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Beautiful scene.
Regards and best wishes
Karen February 24, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Takes my breath away!
Mary, MI February 24, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Wow that is beautiful!
SWF
Ann, CT February 24, 2012 at 6:27 pm
I am returning to the RI coastline. Last weekend I watched common eiders, mergansers, buffleheads, scoters, and red throated loons in the icy blue Atlantic. Also got lucky to watch a lone razorbill feeding as the cod boats were returning to their port. I’m packing my gear now and looking forward to great bird photography opportunities.
Clare February 24, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Finally, after a week of traversing the length and breadth of Nunavut I’ll be birding at home this weekend.
Katrina February 25, 2012 at 3:00 pm
I’m hoping to get to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area (south-central Pennsylvania) tomorrow. There are many thousands of Snow Geese and Tundra Swans there along with other waterfowl and a Sandhill Crane. My attempts to go birding today were defeated by high winds.