Friday Feathered Feature
Showcasing a different bird species each week
We’ve been observing the changing winter residents at Goose Pond Sanctuary and Mark and Sue’s cabin in Rio (Wildland LLC) for 23 years. We can expect to find a few familiar faces each year; however, the numbers of those expected winter residents may change, and we also may get a few surprises.
Photo by Eric Begin
The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) that was held February 12-15, 2021 is going into record books as the most successful count to date. Bird records and participation is expanding every year. For many years we have enjoyed participating and look forward to observing our feeders.
This Citizen Science Project is a partnership with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. The Count started in the United States in 1998 as a “backyard bird count” and went international in 2013. The GBBC is more than just a “backyard count” and any birds found anywhere can be reported on e-Bird.
The GBBC is only possible using e-Bird. How did e-Bird originate? Tim Eisele recently wrote on January 22 in Wisconsin Outdoors an article titled Stan Temple Headed into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame. Tim wrote that Stan “began a Wisconsin bird check-off list that eventually turned into the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s e-Bird program that encourages citizens to record bird observations. It is now described as the biggest citizen science program in the world.” In the 1990’s we remember making a weekly checklist on birds seen at Goose Pond and reporting the results. Congratulations to Stan.
If you would like to learn more about how to use eBird, sign up for Madison Audubon’s upcoming class, Learning the Ropes of eBird Mobile on March 25.
As of February 19, there have been 6,299 species reported for GBBC by over 275,000 birders on 307,700 checklists from 176 countries!
The United States has the most checklists in the world (214,700 checklists) and the eighth highest species count (659 species). The South American country of Columbia is ranked number 1 in the world with 1,096 species.
Wisconsin ranks 18th with 4,573 checklists and 40th with 121 species in the United States. In Columbia County, 33 birders submitted 58 checklists with 36 species. Laura Wentz and JD Arnston both submitted five checklists.
Horned lark, photo by Tim Lenz
In Columbia County, Goose Pond is the number one “hotspot” with 21 species and 9 checklists submitted by Graham Steinhauer, Calla Norris, JD Arnston, John Lyons, Judi Benade and Mark. Interesting species found included 26 ring-necked pheasants, 60 mourning doves, 1 great horned owl, 55 horned larks, 90 snow buntings, 45 American tree sparrows, and 67 house finches. Graham found the highest number of pheasants in Wisconsin. Wisconsin pheasants came from China and the high count of ring-necked pheasants in China on the GBBC was five.
At our Wildland cabin near Rio, we submitted three checklists with all birds seen from inside the cabin. Species and numbers found are wild turkey (59), Cooper’s hawk (1), bald eagle (2),mourning dove (95), short-eared owl (1), red-bellied woodpecker (1), downy woodpecker (6), hairy woodpecker (2), blue jay (9), American crow (6), black-capped chickadee (7), tufted titmouse (5), white-breasted nuthatch (1), American tree sparrow (30), dark-eyed junco (30), northern cardinal (9), house finch (40), American goldfinch (40), and house sparrow (2).
Red-bellied Woodpecker, photo by USFWS Midwest
The best bird found was a short-eared owl. Our “watch dog/bird counter” schipperke ran to the window at dusk and barked loudly. Sue went to see what drew his attention and saw a short-eared owl within 30 feet of the cabin. This is the third time in that week that a short-ear was present. At times, it looked like a Butterball turkey convention with large numbers of wild turkeys feeding under the feeders.
We grew up with parents that fed the birds and we really enjoy feeding and observing the birds. We feed cracked and shell corn, black oil sunflowers and sunflower chips, white millet, and suet. It is important to keep the feeders clean. At Goose Pond and at the cabin we use “Ecoclean” Wild Birds Unlimited feeders with antimicrobial product protection. We also have heated bird baths that the birds really like drinking from. It’s important to keep feeders and birdbaths clean and on a sanitizing schedule.
Looking at the Wisconsin data we saw that Kathy Kershaw from Madison ranked number one with reporting 52 species on the GBBC. She entered 16 checklists in four days. Kathy is driven, dedicated, loves her birds, likes to learn, and is relatively new to eBird.
Kathy’s bio in her eBird summary reads "What bird is that? I actively took up birding in 2015 after we added a 2nd story sunroom overlooking our gardens, Koi ponds, mature trees, and beyond. I started venturing off our property late April 2016 and posting on eBird. I haven't stopped since—birding/posting daily. We have both mowed open areas and footpaths looping through brush/forest areas. Adjacent ~140 acres add grassland areas, more large trees 'n tangles, +farmed and fallow areas. Walking our land developed my interest well past watching birds at the feeders we've put out for 20+ years. Yet, I still love seeing birds at our (now many) feeders, birdbaths, and Koi pond areas near the house. I've become an obsessed daily birder. I've enjoyed seeing both rare and common birds as I venture near and far to both familiar and new places. At times I join field trips where I have met wonderful, knowledgeable, very helpful people. So much to see, hear, and learn!”
Since 2016 Kathy has entered an impressive 3,584 complete checklists and reported 294 species with photos of 262 species and audio of 37 species.
Ring-necked duck and canvasbacks. Photo by Kathy Kershaw
We enjoy our birds. If you do not yet feed birds, we hope you will consider putting up feeders. If you do feed birds, we hope you will join us on entering your data for your birds in the 2022 GBBC.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's count! If you are thinking about a winter “bird” vacation next year, you can check out the GBBC and e-Bird and learn of the hot spots for species and numbers.
Written by Mark Martin and Susan-Foote Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary residents managers
Cover photo by Eric Bégin
We always look forward to participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). This year we kept close watch at the bird feeders at both Madison Audubon residences at Goose Pond Sanctuary on Monday, February 18, the last of the four-day time period. The Martins also counted birds at feeders at their cabin (Wildland) north of Rio in Columbia County on Sunday, February 17.
The GBBC gives us a snapshot of bird usage at our feeders in late winter. Despite the name, birds can also be counted and reported from anywhere, not just backyards. Nine of the 14 species observed at three feeders were in the top 10 species recorded world-wide in 2018 (see spreadsheet below).
Factors contributing to the higher species count and higher number of individuals included more diverse the habitat, the number and types of feeders, and the variety of seeds present. We find that the best seeds for us are black-oil sunflowers, medium sunflower chips, white millet, and suet. This year our sunflower chip feeders were new Wild Birds Unlimited Eco-clean feeders, which reduce disease transmission when birds congregate in high densities.
On Thursday afternoon, February 21, GBBC reports were still being entered but at that time, world-wide totals included 178,200 (160,000 in 2017) checklists, 6,293 (6,031) species, and 28,700, 000 (25,300,000) birds counted as part of the event. This is an impressive number that reflects the amount of people interested in birds, and more people participated this year than last. In Wisconsin, bird watchers submitted 2,454 (2,400) checklists and reported 115 (121) species.
Last year we had good numbers of common redpolls and pine siskins, which are very uncommon this year in southern Wisconsin. The eight turkeys at the Wildland cabin were feeding on sunflowers at the bird feeders and on apples in the orchard. The Goose Pond wildlife food plot of sorghum and sunflowers is helping 250 tree sparrows and 25 ring-necked pheasants make it through the winter.
Shelter is another critical need for birds in the winter. The Kampen Road residence contains an “old growth” Norway spruce windbreak and mature pines, and spruces on the neighbor’s land at the Martin’s cabin provide birds with ideal winter roosting cover. Nine years ago at the Kampen Road residence we planted Norway spruce, white cedar, red osier dogwoods, apples and crab apples. These plantings offer additional cover and also serve as a windbreak.
The Kamepn Road residence windbreak offers important shelter for birds and other wildlife. Photo by Mark Martin
We are planning on planting more woody species this year and encourage others to provide habitat around their residences. In addition to creating cover for the birds, the trees help stop the wind and reduced energy costs.
Thanks to everyone that feed birds already. If you live in suitable habitat we encourage you to start feeding them as well. A friend mentioned the importance of feeding the birds and asked us “how would you like to go to the store in winter and find the shelves empty.” The color and variety of species brighten our winter days, and make us feel good knowing that we can provide them with quality habitats and nutritious food.
The winter weather has been tough on other birds as well. On Wednesday January 30, Jerry Schulz who works at the UW Arlington Research Farms was driving on Goose Pond Road when he saw an eagle in the road "jumping up and down" close to the Manthe farm. As he approached he could see an adult eagle, and it appeared the eagle had just killed a snowy owl. The adult eagle flushed carrying the owl. That day felt like the arctic with a low of - 30 degrees and a high of -12 with -50 wind chill. Snowy owls can withstand the weather, but we have no idea why the eagle was able to take the owl or why the owl was in this location. It is possible that the owl had been hit by a vehicle or had health problems. It is sad to lose one of our feathered friends, and very surprising to learn of this report.
Written by Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary resident managers
This year marks the 20th Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon, Bird Studies Canada, and eBird. Over 160,000 people across the globe spend a chilly February weekend (this year: Feb. 16-19) simultaneously taking a snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds by counting and submitting online the number of species and individual birds they find in their yards. It’s a fun and comfortable way to participate in citizen science, especially during 2018 -- the Year of the Bird!
Snowy owl, photo by Monica Hall
Mark Martin and Sue Foote-Martin, who are year-round residents and managers at Goose Pond Sanctuary, have participated in the GBBC since 2001. Maddie Dumas, Goose Pond land steward, is in her second year of GBBC. Birds can also be counted and reported from anywhere, not just backyards. For example, Mark and Curt Caslavka, longtime friend and volunteer at Goose Pond Sanctuary, reported a snowy owl on Feb.16, seen across Highway County I directly west of Jill’s Prairie.
Each year brings the regular characters to the count: blue jays, black-capped chickadees, tree sparrows. Some years bring unusual faces, like ring-necked pheasants, and some years bring bumper crops of other species. This year, thanks to the GBBC, we have a new record of 110 common redpolls for Goose Pond Sanctuary, surpassing the record of 50 birds seen by Aaron Stutz in 1997. The high count in Wisconsin for common redpolls was a flock of 150 in Langlade County.
House finches (with the red faces and breasts) and common redpoll (with the red cap) feasting during the GBBC. Photo by Maddie Dumas
We kept close watch of the bird feeders at both Goose Pond residences on Monday, February 19, the last day of the four-day Great Backyard Bird Count. Mark and Sue were surprised to see a large flock of winter finches flying back and forth from the spruce windbreak to the ash trees in the Kampen Road residence and identified them as common redpolls. The flock stayed high up in the spruce and only one redpoll was seen at the sunflower fine feeders.
The Martins also checked their feeders at their cabin (Wildland) north of Rio in Columbia County. The habitat around the cabin consists of restored prairie, oak savanna and wetland. This setting provided the greatest diversity of bird species (see spreadsheet), totaling 19 as compared to 6 species at the Kampen Road residence and 9 species at the Prairie Lane residence.
Goldfinch (top left), common redpoll (bottom center), and pine siskins (all the rest) converge on one feeder at Wildland. Photo by Mark Martin
The Goose Pond residences are in an open landscape with few trees and restored prairie within one half mile of a wildlife food plot of sunflowers and sorghum. The food plot helps attract birds to the area. Mourning doves, American tree sparrows, common redpolls, and American goldfinches have been in the food plot since December and move back and forth to the residences.
Ring-necked pheasants are uncommon in the GBBC and Maddie found a pair feeding at her feeders. Good numbers of mourning doves and American tree sparrows were found at all three residences. Pine siskins are also more common in Wisconsin this winter and have been feeding in high numbers at the Wildland feeders for many weeks.
Factors contributing to the higher species count and higher number of individuals included more diverse habitat, the number and types of feeders, and the variety of seeds present. We find that the best seeds for us are black-oil sunflowers, sunflower fines, white millet, and suet. Nine of the 20 species observed at three feeders were in the top 10 species recorded world-wide in 2017 (see spreadsheet).
On Thursday afternoon, February 22 GBBC reports were still being entered. Thursday totals included 160,000 checklists, 6,031 species and 25,300,000 birds counted. This is an impressive number that reflects on the number of people interested in birds. In Wisconsin, birdwatchers submitted 2,400 checklists and reported 121 species.
Downy woodpeckers munching on suet. Photo by Mark Martin
We really enjoy counting birds and participating in the GBBC that gives us a snapshot of bird usage at our feeder in late winter. Thanks to everyone that feeds the birds, and if you live in suitable habitat we encourage you to begin feeding the birds. Winter feeding, in particular, can make the difference in helping some species make it through cold and snowy weather. The color and variety of species brighten our winter days and make us feel good knowing that we can provide them with quality habitats and nutritious food.
P.S. This time of year is a good time to start thinking about planting native shrubs and plants for wildlife habitat in your yard! Check out this list of nurseries that sell Wisconsin native plants and offer lots of resources like catalogs, planting recommendations, and more. Dream big and make your yard a little haven for birds (you’ll be making it a haven for lots of other great wildlife as a byproduct, too!).
Written by Mark Martin and Susan Foote-Martin, Goose Pond Sanctuary resident managers, and Maddie Dumas, land steward
Header photo: Common redpoll, by Emily Meier
Mourning doves are one of Wisconsin’s most abundant and widespread bird species, with the continental population estimated to be over 400 million. As Goose Pond Sanctuary’s most numerous winter bird species, mourning doves were well-represented on the Great Backyard Bird Count, with a high of 117. Numbers were even greater at the end of February, with about 180 being counted.
