Settled in PA

Whew! What a wild month it has been. Our family recently moved so I could take a new position working on home and neighborhood bird conservation for the National Audubon Society in Pennsylvania. It has been a huge adjustment for our family, and I'm now adjusting to the different birdlife and birding opportunities.

So far I've started my Bucks County list and a 2005 Bucks County list. One afternoon I spotted a rare Brant goose in a flock of several hundred Canada Goose--the most common bird here, which flies around the area in enormous flocks.

This morning I enjoyed three Eastern Bluebirds and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, among other species, outside my office window. Every Thursday and Friday, our office participates in Project Feeder Watch, which Audubon partners with others to conduct. We count the highest number of each species we see at the feeders and in the office yard. Since the office is on 160 acres in rural Bucks County, there are some great birds here. Having lived in central Texas for 10 years, its fun to live where White-breasted Nuthatches are common again. So far this morning I've seen a dozen species at the feeders outside the office window. Beats a suburban office park, hands down. You can see a photo of my office here.

If you haven't checked out Project Feeder Watch, its a great way to keep track of the birds in your yard. And would be fun to do with kids. It also provides important info on wintering bird populations. This kind of research, conducted by normal people, is called "Citizen Science".

Be a Citizen Scientist. Participate in Project Feeder Watch!