Birding Beats the Winter Blues

I think most experts agree that the best way to beat the winter blues in Northeast Washington is to get out in the daylight and fresh air. And I'm pretty sure the very best way to do it is birding. Yes, winter birding can be the best! This is the one time of year when rare or uncommon migrants from the arctic and northern boreal forests settle  in to enjoy our "mild" winters. And sometimes it can be some of our local birds that spend most of the year in high mountain elevations, but move to lower elevations to find food.

                                     Varied Thrush eating berries in Kettle Falls

Pine Grosbeaks, American Tree Sparrows, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Shrikes. Rough-legged Hawks, Tundra and Trumpeter Swans, Common Loons, Barrow's Goldeneyes, and others starts showing up to hunker down for the toughest time of year. Some years bring unexpected mass appearances of nomadic Common Redpolls and White-winged Crossbills. If we're really lucky we might be graced by a Snowy Owl.

                                      Male House Finch on a snowy day

Winter is also a great time to set up your bird feeders to attract our hardy locals that stick around. Black-capped and Mountain Chickadee, House Finch, American Goldfinch, California Quail, Pine Siskin,  Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch. Even Eurasian Collard Dove and Mourning Dove. What better way to beat winter than to help birds pass through nature's bottleneck and emerge victorious in the spring.

                                      Canada Geese are common winter residents in Northeast WA

Winter birding with friends can also be the best as it gets us out of the house and interacting with friends. It can be informal and adventurous. How can it be better than that? Well, it can. What if your winter mental health therapy also contributed to citizen science efforts? Sound interesting?

                                 American Robin eating the last berries on a tree in late winter


Here's what's on tap for this winter and how you can participate.

October 12th - Northeast Washington Birders Meeting
                        1-3 pm Kettle Falls Library Community Room
                        Learn about winter birding citizen science opportunities, meet other local birders

November  - Winter Raptor Surveys
                      5 different routes will be available, covering the Kettle Falls, Colville and Chewelah
                      areas. This project has expanded into our area this winter and Northeast Washington
                      Birders is the local coordinating group.

December -  Colville Christmas Bird Count
                     Chewelah Christmas Bird Count
                     Winter Raptor Survey Routes (5)

January -    Winter Raptor Survey Routes (5)
                    Little Pend Oreille NWR Winter Bird Count

February - Winter Raptor Survey Routes (5)

March -     Winter Raptor Survey Routes (5)


So get your bird feeders in shape. Break out the winter clothing and thermos. Join us in citizen science projects. Remember that birding is your best therapy to beat those winter blues!


Good Birding

            - Hawkeye