January Bird Count

I'm not doing a Big Year (if you don't know what I'm talking about, you should probably check out the movie "The Big Year" or, if you're really committed, read the book!). Big Years provide for great stories, but I'm kind of opposed to the idea on a philosophical level. That's a whole conversation you can engage me in if you are interested.

However, at the beginning of this year, my house-mate and fellow second year Anne mentioned that one of her resolutions was to keep track of every bird species she sees this year. I've never done that before and decided I wanted to try it too. It's not a Big Year because I'm not going out of my way to see these birds (okay, I will probably take an occasional birding field trip) but it is more just a record of what birds happen to make their way into my life this year. Plus, now Anne and I have something to be competitive about.

January Bird Count:

1/2/13: On our first day of winter training, we participated in "Superior Snowshoe" in which we basically go snowshoeing to an overlook and back. It gave me a great opportunity to check mark off a lot of the super common winter birds around here:

1. Downy Woodpecker: Wolf Ridge, between Marshall Mountain and Raven Lake trails

2. Black-capped Chickadee: Wolf Ridge, at the Kennedy Creek campsite

3. Common Raven: Wolf Ridge, flying overhead at the Superior overlook
4. Bald Eagle: Wolf Ridge, flying overhead at the Superior overlook
5. White-breasted Nuthatch: Wolf Ridge, Education Building bird feeders (this was exciting - WBNuthatches are not very common around here this time of year. I haven't seen one since).

6. Common Redpoll: Wolf Ridge, Education Building bird feeders

7. Hairy Woodpecker: Wolf Ridge, Top of the North Stairs

1/4/13:
8. Red-breasted Nuthatch: Wolf Ridge, chickadee landing

1/6/13:
9. Pine Grosbeak: Wolf Ridge, above Korppi's enclosure

1/7/13:
10. American Crow: Finland, MN, across the street from Zion Lutheran Church

1/11/13:
11. Rock Pigeon: Duluth, MN, on the telephone wires above the Duluth co-op

1/12/13:
12. Blue Jay: Isabella, MN, at the eco-home bird feeders

1/14/13:
13. Pileated Woodpecker: Wolf Ridge, trees between dining hall and West Dorm

1/26/13:
14. Ruffed Grouse: Finland, MN, dog-walking trail behind "Ragged Ass Road" (walking two golden retrievers, all three of us jumped a foot in the air when a ruffed grouse flew out of the trees right over us and perched in a tree on the other side of the trail).