We all know there are habits, and then there are habits. I hope you don’t have any of the bad kind. I don’t…I think. (My wife may disagree there.)

Getting into the habit of watching birds is a good thing. We all agree on that, right?

The problem, of course, is how to get into it - the habit, that is. So let’s talk about that just a little.

This Week in the Backyard

Each day that I’m home, I always sit at my desk just inside the French doors that open onto the deck that leads to the backyard where all my bird feeders are.

So I’m already in the habit of looking out those doors (or the screen door, if the weather is nice enough) to check on who’s visiting today.

This week I’ve been making a special point of checking for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and American Robins.

Today I saw a hummer 3 times!

I didn’t see any robins. They’ve been making themselves scarce the past couple of weeks.

I’ve always wondered when the last of each of these species makes an appearance in my area. Now, with my Backyard Bird Tracker app, I’ll finally know.

What to Watch For This Week

Try this little experiment.

  1. Go to your usual window, porch, patio, or bird feeder.
  2. Leave the phone alone for five minutes.
  3. Don't try to identify everything.
  4. Notice what moves, what calls, and what stays still.
  5. At the end, ask yourself: What did I notice that I wouldn't have noticed otherwise?

Backyard Moment

It’s not all unicorns and rainbows out there. I had to bury a feathered friend today. It was either a House Finch or a House Sparrow - I didn’t look too close.

I don’t know how she died. I just noticed her on the ground when I went out to water the carrot garden.

Assuming no other critter digs her up, she’ll become fertilizer, and the circle of life will continue.

Journal Prompt

If you spent five quiet minutes watching your backyard this week, what did you notice that you might normally have missed?

No Competition

I’m not trying to compete with other birdwatching apps that are out there. Several of them are truly excellent. My app is mostly, but not exclusively, for the casual birdwatcher - someone who (not surprisingly) likes to watch birds in the backyard.

That said, do you use any of those other apps? Just curious.