BIG SIT UPDATE!!! - The 2018 Big Sit has come and gone.
Yesterday we sat and stood at Mills Riverside Park in Jericho from a little before 7AM until 5PM, looking and listening for birds.
Curious passersby also stopped by, many eager to share stories of birds they'd seen and enjoyed at the park.
The morning was cold (37 degrees) and overcast with dark clouds. By mid-morning, we saw breaks of sun and blue sky, and by the afternoon the temperature was in the 50s with sun, wind, and glowing fall foliage.
The day started with lots of bird noises, mostly crows, chickadees, juncos, and White-throated Sparrows.
Bernie had brought a stuffed robin just in case we didn't see any real ones.
He shouldn't have worried! We were entertained by a flock of thirty or so robins feasting on wild grapes and then dropping to the mowed lawn to hunt for grubs. They were joined there by four Northern Flickers and some starlings.
From 10:30 or so until 1:00 was a definite lull, enlivened by snacks, hot tea and coffee, and friendly human visitors.
In all, we counted more bird species than we'd expected in such a busy park, with almost constant human and dog traffic. High school senior photos were being taken in several locations throughout the day, with people bringing in cameras, lenses, reflectors, props and changes of clothing. One enterprising photographer even carried a large stuffed wing chair on his back!
Each new bird species was recorded on The Official Big Sit Orange Board.
In the evening, we got an e-mailed photo and a lovely PS from Reed Sims. He and his wife had come by as we were packing up.
Here is the "remainders of the day" photo, those dedicated hold-outs who didn't abandon their companions, but instead continued to add to the Big Sit List with aplomb and extraordinary, nay, astounding diligence, hoping for the occasional eider or macaw.
Thank you all for adding to the national database.
Pre-Sit Post below
The Big Sit! is a one day event whereby beginners and experts and anyone at all interested come together during the day and count how many bird species they can spot or hear while sitting or standing in a 17-foot circle.
You can stop by for a few minutes or a few hours or the whole day. Bring, if you have them, chair, binoculars, bird guides, scope, camera. We will have some extras available as well. And then join in as we sit and watch for every bird species we collectively can spot or hear. We promise it will not be this cold!
Where: Mills Riverside Park, Jericho, VT.
When: All Day - Sunday Oct 14
Leader: Maeve Kim, co leader: Bernie Paquette
Team name: Jericho Juncos
RSVP Bernie.paquette@yahoo.com
Here is a good description of the Big Sit.
https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/connect/bigsit.php
Hope to see you (and the birds) at Mills Riverside Park on Sunday Oct 14. Stop by for a few minutes, or few hours, or all day.
Introduction to bird watching
Oct 14 Mills Riverside Park
Jericho, Vermont
Why get into bird watching? It is the most relaxing of hobbies. Only requirements are eyes and or ears, some free time, and an outdoor area. You can choose how deep you get into it – casual bird observation to identification and record keeping; from backyard bird watching to spotting birds on walks in parks, fields, and woodlands; from recreational activity to citizen science.
Now is a great time to go bird watching as many birds are
migrating through the area, and the temperature is moderate.
Bird watching gives you a reason to explore the natural
world and is a form of mindfulness.
Bird watching works for all ages – for everyone. Bird
watchers like to help others to find and identify birds. No minimum skill level
required – just an interest in spotting, hearing, and learning about birds.
Bird watching can be especially fun for children, once introduced they may
become bird watchers for life.
About 50 million Americans plan an outing to observe wild
birds this year.
Bird watching sharpens your sight, your observation skills,
encourages you to explore the world, and helps you to treasure the moment. One
moves from the pretty in nature through successive stages of beautiful.
Getting to know birds is like getting to know people and
their names. The more we know about them the more we see, recognize and hear
them.
FREE EVENT: Try bird watching with us at Jericho Mills
Riverside Park any time during the day on Sunday Oct 14. We will be there with
spare binoculars, scope, guides, and the birds of Jericho will be there too.
