I have participated in the Cornell lab of Ornithology bird feeder watch
(Nov-
April) for several years, and obviously weather can make a big difference.
They're reporting forms do have a place for weather conditions, but
I think it should be stressed more that the participants make a greater
effort to record exact conditions during their watch period, because

on some days it may start out beautiful and I have birds all over,
and later in the day everything deteriorates. Depending on when I take
my count and how I report the weather could have a significant impact on
tabulating results.

By the way, this is a wonderful survey, and everybody who has a least
one feeder out should participate. They publish a magazine along with
a quarterly BIRDSCOPE (relating specifically to the feeder watch) and
now after several years, they are getting some extremely useful
information on migration, wintering patterns and irruptive behaviors.


Douglas F. Daily
ddaily at u.washington.edu
University of Washington
Nursing Payroll, RC-36
Seattle WA 98195