Any birders here?

[semillama]

sort of surprised there's not an individual DU group for it, I surely can't be the only one out of how thousands of folks here.

Anyone participate on the Christmas Bird Count? See anything good?

For me, I got my first two owls for Ohio, a gray-phase Screech Owl in a Wood Duck house and a Barred Owl (life bird!) in a pine stand next to a housing development (I've seen the Screech in Michigan, and also a Great Gray Owl in Michigan).

[TX-RAT]

1. Have the small burrowing owls on my place

The live in the prairie dog holes. Lots of other Owls around here.

[Kolesar]

2. I saw migratory whistling swans in Ohio this year

The birds live on the north coasts of Alaska and commute to the VA/NC shore for the winter. They looked a lot like the ubiquitous Canada Geese, but upon closer examination, they had more slender bodies and wings more like a Supermarine Spitfire. They also had a "whistling" song as they flew off in a Vee formation.

[fishnfla]

3. i live in a great area for birds

Its wooded by the house, we have all sorts of raptors: lots and lots of hawks,sparrow hawks and red-shouldered, I've see a falcon or two, a swallow-tailed kite, bald eagles, tons of ospreys, owls too.

Out on the water, every sort of wading bird you can imagine, egrets,herons,spoonbills,gulls. I've seen alot of sandhill cranes, well mainly the same group of 4. Ducks and teal too. Frigate birds are cool, I've seen them way offshore

at the feeder, cardinals, titmouse,woodpeckers (we have a piliated woodpecker on the property)mourning doves,other song and perching birds, and of course squirrels.

[catchnrelease]

4. Yep

Haven't done too much "official" birding with any groups in a couple of years tho'. More doing it opportunistically on my own. At the beginning of Dec, while in Las Vegas for a club convention, I went out to the East side of the city to a restored wetland area. It was pretty impressive. Saw some nice desert wash type birds.....Verdin, Le Conte's Thrasher, Kingfisher. Have already planned on some other good spots for next year! (Gambling doesn't interest me and the meetings are boring-- sounds like a good excuse to get outside and away from the smoke and air conditioning.)

[fishnfla]

5. It is said that the kingfisher is a sign of good fortune

One of my favorite species, that racous clatter of a call, and the way the swoop when they fly.

I've never seen a road runner, I'm sure they are out west

[scarlet_owl]

6. I'm a birder.

I mostly know about owls, but I love to watch all birds. The nature center I volunteer at has a cool birdfeeder observation room with a parabolic microphone.

[Minimus]

7. I'm into birding big time and wish there was a Group for it.

I had an enjoyable day today, feeding the blue birds. I put their meal-worms out and they came a calling.

I keep a journal of all the birds I see, and I have identified 37 species in my back yard.

I freak out when I get to add a new bird to my list.

I was at my parent's on Christmas day and they yelled for me to come and bring my binocs (I take them everywhere), they had Northern Flicker - Yellow Shafted male that just hung out in their yard looking for food.

They are in the Piciformes (Woodpecker) group and they are the only ones that ground feed for bugs, mostly ants.

That was a great Christmas present from Mother Nature.

Definitely would love a Birder Group if anyone is interested?

[Township75]

8. Novice birder here....

I am not now, nor likel ever will be seriously into it. I really just try to know enought to recognize the bird calls when I am hiking.

[Minimus]

9. A Birding Group has been added

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=294