Fall Is In The Air - Birds Are On The Wing!

The crisp mornings and early snows in the hills are telling us that fall is here. With it comes the fall migration of many bird species. Most birds have also completed there last molt of the year and enter winter with fresh feathers that insulate and identify. Notably we see that Mallards have molted their eclipse plumage of the summer brood rearing season and are now pairing up in their fresh breeding plumage. 

                  Mallard drake and hen in fresh breeding plumage     

As fall progresses there will opportunities to view numerous species that summered in the far north and are making their way through our area- perhaps to winter here or continuing on to warmer climates.

Other notable birds that we often see are gulls. Most commonly we see Ring-billed gulls, the slightly larger California Gull and the even larger Herring Gull. The mouth of the Colville River and Old Kettle Falls marina area are good places to see gulls (and the landfill if you happen to be there!). 

Ring-billed Gull. Note black strip encircling the bill and black wing tips with white spotting. This is an adult gull. 

Many birds seem to suddenly appear plump and fat this time of year. Actually that is their plumage being fluffed out to provide extra insulation during the colder weather. 

    California Quail enjoying the sun on a brisk autumn morning. 

CITIZEN SCIENCE ALERT!!!

OCTOBER 19TH BIG DAY

2019 October Big Day

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has announced that the fall Big Day is back. This coming Saturday will be your opportunity to join a global effort to find and record as many bird species in a 24-hour period  as you can.

The 2019 October Big Day can be a great way to get outdoors and find what birds are coming through during the fall migration. Follow the link above to find out how you can participate and add your observations to thousands of other birders to produce a global snapshot of bird abundance and locations.  

How to participate

• Get an eBird account: eBird is a worldwide bird checklist program used by millions of birders. It’s what allows us to compile everyone’s sightings into a single massive October Big Day list—while at the same time collecting the data for scientists to use to better understand birds. Sign up here. It’s 100% free.
• Watch birds on 19 October: It’s that simple. You don’t need to be a bird expert, or go out all day long. Even 10 minutes in your backyard will help. October Big Day runs from midnight to midnight in your local time zone. You can report birds from ywhere in the world.
• Enter what you see and hear on eBird: You can enter your sightings via our website or—even easier—download the free eBird Mobile app. You can enter and submit lists while you’re still out birding, and the app will even keep track of how far you’ve walked, so you can focus on watching birds. While you’re downloading free apps, try out the Cornell Lab’s Merlin Bird ID app for help with identification. Please enter sightings before 23 October to be included in our initial results announcement.
• Watch the sightings roll in: During the day, keep an eye on how the lists are growing in different parts of the world. Follow along with sightings from more than 150 countries. Stats will be updated in real-time on our October Big Day page.

Get out there and have a great day!

Good Birding,

  - Hawkeye