Happy New Year from RCAS! Want to see more birds in 2013 or know more about them? Here are some resolutions you can make for better birding this year.
Bird local. There are plenty of places to see birds right here in Rutland County. The Cadwell Loop in Pittsford is our newest hotspot. With the recent snowfall, it’s the perfect place for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. Some of the birds being seen right now include Common Redpoll, Snow Bunting, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Eastern Bluebird (which are even more blue on a snowy day).
Participate in citizen science. If you haven’t done so before, take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count coming up in February over Presidents Day weekend. It’s easy and it’s fun. Does the online entry intimidate you? They’ve made it really simple or, better yet, ask you kids or grandchildren to help.
eBird. Make it a regular part of your birding experience. Your checklists really do matter – to scientists, conservationists and fellow birders. Sign up today and resolve to enter one checklist a week. It can be from your backyard, a lunch break walk, one of the RCAS hotspots, your favorite vacation spot. Birds are everywhere and the more we know about them, the more we can help them. Click here and start now!
Read more about birds and nature. RCAS has a list of books if you need a suggestion. One of our favorites right now is Julie Zickefoose’s The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds with Common Birds. Click here to find out more about it or other books we recommend. And if you know of a good book, let us know too!
Learn ten new bird songs this year. Birding by ear greatly enhances your birding experience. With all the resources available, it’s easy. Download a birding app, buy a CD or listen to birds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology online bird guide. Then go out and practice what you’ve learned. Nothing helps you remember a bird song than watching one sing. Really.
Bird with friends. Don’t have any birding buddies? Join RCAS on a West Rutland Marsh walk or other field trip. Check out our list of upcoming events.
What’s your favorite bird? Resolve to know more about it – what does it eat, what does its nest look like, where does it go when it migrates, what is its current conservation status? Between the library and all the resources on the internet, it’s easy to find out.
Give back to the birds. There are lots of ways we can help birds. Participate in citizen science. Drink shade-grown coffee. Donate to a conservation organization. Take a kid birding. Write to your representatives about issues that concern the environment. Find one more thing that can be recycled. Plant a native shrub or build a brush pile. The list is endless if you think about it.