1. I was very intrigued studying these migratory patterns. I had no idea the Cardinal was so specific to the eastern United States; that some birds migrate through our area on the way north and some, like the Rufous Hummingbird, come through on the way south; and that, while the Sandhill Crane is frequent here, it's prevalence is higher north of here. Knowing these migratory patterns will help me know what to look for and be able to find some of these species later this summer. I look forward to it!

Different Seasons Different Birds, Actvity 1, compare migrations of selected pairs Northern Cardinal with Blackburnian Warbler Northern Cardinal has a very static range.  There are minor fluctuations around the fringes and within the main body of the population in the eastern 2/3 of the USA.  There are also populations in southern CA, Nevada, Mexico (mostly coastal) and out into the Gulf coastal extensions of central America. Blackburnian Warbler is a long migrator who moves from the tropical highlands of the northern parts of South America (south of where the Cardinal winters in what looks like somewhat cooler regions). And flies largely north of the heartland of the Cardinal’s range.  They appear to overlap only in the summer in central to northern New England in the hillier parts of that region. I can recommend a summer drive on route 100 through the middle of Vermont if you want to see some beautiful country and have a chance to see both birds. Scarlet Tanager with Western Tanager Scarlet Tanager and Western Tanager do an East West split on the United States.  Their summer ranges give a reasonable wide birth to the central plains of the USA.. Western goes from west coast and highlands of Mexico and Central America in winter months to a broad swath of the Western USA and Western Provinces of Canada.  The Scarlet  goes further south into Eastern highlands of Bolivia Nicaragua and Equador and Western Brazil.  It migrates north over Cozumel and the western edge of Cuba over to Florida and settles in the northern 2/3 of the Eastern 1/3 of the US pretty much over a large part of the Applachian Trail.  They seem to have very little overlap so it would be very rare to see the two in one location. Ruby-throated Hummingbird with Rufous Hummingbird Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that makes its way to Massachusetts in the summer.  I have one family that started visiting me the summer of 2018 when I was on my porch a lot due to radiation treatments and the recovery process.  They had a single baby who I guessed was a female and loved my lantana.  2019 I added a feeder but am not sure they had a successful brood as I didn’t see the juvenile.  They winter in Mexico and Central America and migrate to the whole eastern half of USA and most of southern Canada East of the Rockies.  The Rufous winters in the northern half of the Ruby Throated’s range in Mexico but pretty much sticks to the Pacific coastal region for migration and breeding up in the Washington Oregon regions.  Its path home looks to take a less coastal path visiting Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico on its way back to Mexico wintering. Need to go Pacific side of Mexico below Baja to see them both in the winter. Sandhill Crane with Yellow-bellied Flycatcher no confusing these. Sandhill Crane sticks mostly to the USA and Canada including Alaska.  It winters over in the US and travels to a brad swath of Canada in the breeding season.  The flycatcher spends the winter in Central America and heads north mostly in the northeast USA and southeast Canada.  A branch seems to take a brief trip to the eastern side of Alaska.  Need to read more about them.  To see both birds on the same trip one would have to go to southern Canada between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay. I really like the animation tool.  I saw several warblers briefly in F this winter and now know it was mib=gration time (March and April).

This was extracurricular activity  My wife found this spot on a walk  It has had “lots of white birds”  Today it had about 15 white ibis and a tricolor heron (new bird for me)  Yesterday it had only 5 ibis but also a great blue heron, a little blue heron, a snowy egret and 2 gallinules  

Cardinals, woodpeckers and blue jays are year round residents but now visiting us here in northern New Jersey are the Baltimore orioles, rose breasted grosbeaks and ruby throated hummingbirds, all so beautiful to see.

The likely birds feature in Merlin is very cool.  During our stay at home time I have been able to keep an eye on my feeder much more than normal and see some of the trends on likely birds happening right in front of my eyes.

These activities tasked us to more fully explore the e-Bird site. (Activity 1) The Sandhill crane was just sited by my daughter traveling north from 200 miles away. We tracked the migration pattern and noted why we have to travel from our home to see them. (Activity 2) Black-capped chickadees, woodpeckers, & dark-eyed juncos are in abundance year round in our neighborhood. Whereas mallards, trumpeter swans, and Canadian Geese are seasonal residents. The latter seem to take ownership of most urban parks in Minnesota Spring, Summer, & Fall. We visited a National Wildlife Refuge Center this past week to spot the migrating mallards, hawks, turkey vultures, American White Pelicans, Cliff/ Barn, or Tree Swallows (they flit around too fast to note differences!), blue jays, and ruffed grouse. (Activity 3) The Macaulay Library opened our eyes to the seasonal differences in one particular bird whereas we'd previously noted only male/female differences.

Activity 4: Right now, I expect to find House Finches, and a few Lesser Goldfinches. In six months, I'd still expect to find house finches, but I wouldn't see any Lesser Goldfinches. Instead, I might see Cedar Waxwings.

The White-crowned Sparrow, the Double-crested Cormorant, and the California Quail are all ubiquitous where I live.  I was surprised that the California Quail seems to be the least common bird of the three.  I learned that it is also found in South America in an area that has a similar climate. The Double-crested Cormorant is found all over the country and I had assumed that it was a bird only found near the ocean.  The White-crowned Sparrow is pretty common, but seems to follow the warmer weather.

I was looking at the activity about comparing the appearances of a common loon.  I noticed that the eyes were  bright red in the first half of the year and they seemed to change  in the last half of the year(dark red or black).  Is this a fact or is it due to the lighting conditions that affect photographic results due to the change in seasons?

Activity 4: My favorite birding spot is also the easiest for me - my backyard! Six months from now, I'll still see cardinals, crows, and woodpeckers, but my hummingbird friends will likely be all (or mostly) gone for the season. There is a also a Summer Tanager visiting right now who will be wintering in Central or South America. I am definitely enjoying watching him for now though!

Activity 1:  The migration videos show me why I always see Cardinals but only have a limited window to see Blackburnian Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and will never see a Western Tanager or Rufous Hummingbird unless I vacation out west.  Activity 2: Three year-round resident birds for my area (Columbus, Ohio) are Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, and White-breasted Nuthatch.  Three birds that only live in my area for part of the year are Eastern Kingbird, Indigo Bunting, and American Redstart.  Activity 3:  Both the Male American Goldfinches and Common Loons have more vivid coloring in the summer months than in the winter.  Since I have Goldfinches at my feeders year-round, I have noticed this with them.   Activity 4: I don't just have one favorite birding spot, but I know I can count on seeing Yellow Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Baltimore Orioles right now.  In six months I could see Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  I can see Wild Turkeys year-round and right now they are very easy to spot at Blendon Woods Metro Park.

[3] The American Goldfinches right now are in the process of exchanging their olive/tan winter plumage for the more enticing brilliant yellow plumage. Their wing-bars remain evident in both seasons although the bill does change colour. I find them at my feeders in both seasons although more frequently in the winter. They seem to prefer nyjer during the winter. I only see loons during the summer when visiting a friend's cottage in northern Ontario near Algonquin Park. During the summer, they are a beautiful black and white with a black necklace and brown head. The pictures of them during the winter that I found on your website show them to be more uniformly grey with a greyer bill. Had I not taken the time to look, I would not have recognised this bird during the off-season.

[2] Three birds that I can count on being here all year are the Cooper's Hawk, the Northern Cardinal and the Black-capped Chickadee. The look and sound the same all year, although I find the chickadees tends to be a more faithful visitors to my feeders during the snowy months. At this time of year, they tend to expand their range and depend less on my feeders. This month, I had a pair of new visitors arrive rather early from their migration: a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. They stayed for a couple of days but have not been seen since. The White-crowned Sparrows and the White-throated Sparrows have been here before and can always be counted on to feed under my feeders. Once the Covid situation has resolved itself, whenever that might be, I would like to head to the park by the St Clair River in order to take part in some high-quality birding and to enjoy the arrival of the warblers. Alas, all of our parks have been closed since the beginning of the Covid issue.

[4] Right now, my favourite birding location is the abandoned orchard that is a three-minute walk from my house, which is a stone's throw from the extreme southern end of Lake Huron. The area in question is now filled in large part with secondary-growth forest and is a haven for many species of birds, including my faithful friend, the Cooper's Hawk, who likes to visit my backyard frequently. Right now, unless the expected polar vortex hits and drops snow on the area, we are on the cusp of the return of a large wave of migratory birds. Most of my migratory winter birds have left -- I haven't seen a Junco in days -- and I am beginning to see the return of old friends like the White-crowned Sparrow. When fall returns, I expect to see the opposite playing itself out: my summer friends will begin to leave and my winter friends will begin to return. Although I love all of my birds, I do look forward, as I have now for sixteen years, the return of Project Feederwatch in the fall.

Activity 4: In six months, it will be November and I will still be seeing Cardinals, Chickadees, and Hairy Woodpeckers at my feeders. The Pileated Woodpeckers will still be heard drumming in the woods, and will occasionally be seen at the feeders. In the hedgerows, I will no longer see Kingbirds, Blue Grosbeak, or Ruby throated Hummingbirds and Eastern Wood-Pewees. Our barn swallows will have left. The Goldfinches will still be here, but will be much more difficult to spot in their duller plumage. The Mourning doves will still be here, as will the Turkeys, and the Bald Eagles, but I probably will not see them as frequently as I am currently.

[1] I paid particular attention to the birds that fly up through Point Pelee in the Great Lakes because I live two hours north of there on the Canadian side of the southern end of Lake Huron. I noted the vast numbers of birds that are funnelled through that gateway to the north. I also noted the large numbers of birds that skirt the western edge of the Great Lakes and head north into the prairie provinces. I was particularly struck by the invisible dividing line that the central portion of the American mainland seems to be for migrating birds. It is as if western birds spread out with some heading into the central portion of the continent and eastern birds doing the same. That likely explains some of the interbreeding that I read about.

Activity 4: In Central British Columbia we have a few months of cold weather, so the number of species, and number of those staying the winter decrease considerably. I get really tired of taking pictures of Canadian Geese in the winter. Fortunately spring comes early. Winter: Canadian Geese, Song and House Sparrow, Starlings, my favorite Black-capped Chickadee (I am working on locating them by song), American Crow (some really large ones). There are a few others, but not seen in the city normally. We have a few Alaskan swans that winter here. So nice to see. Summer: Oh boy! So many. How do they do it? American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds are the first to show up (Blackbirds mainly around our marshes). Our early spring brings so many in April and May: Mallards, Northern Flicker, California Quail (they are so cute, but my mom complains they dig up the garden), American Goldfinch, House finch (this is the largest finch i have seen), just saw a group of Violet-green Swallows for the first time, I love the soft sound of the Mourning Dove, American Coots, the Osprey are a big deal nesting in our city right now. There are so many; and i have seen so many new to me already this spring. 

Activity 3: It is incredible the difference in colors in different seasons. It makes sense that many birds are less colorful in the winter for camouflage. We do not have either species in our area in the winter. It is interesting that the males are more colorful than females in summer. The color and markings are so vibrant, and I guess pleasing to the females. Is it also that birds in colder winter climates have extra feathers to keep warm? It would make sense. I am going to look that up. In the human race it is the females that decorate to attract males. Funny.

Activity 2: Canada Geese: Many stay in central British Columbia year round. Sparrows and Starlings: some House Sparrows stay over the winter, as do many Starlings. Winter is not too long where we are. I have seen so many varieties this spring! Spring comes early here, and many species have been back for more than a month. For us the first to arrive are Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds. I feel fortunate to have seen many rare ones already this year; Cinnamon Duck, Wood Duck, Blue-headed Mallard, Ruddy Ducks, and more. The breeding Osprey are a big event here.

Activity 3 : - Male American Goldfinches in summer and winter During winter the black crown is gone, bright yellow color is gone, the color of bill has changed. Wings and tail patterns remain same.   Common Loons in summer and winter During winters only things that looks same to me is the color of eyes.

Activity 4 - Hope to see Mallard, Great white Pelican and Osprey in October.

Activity 1 Northern Cardinal with Blackburnian Warbler

• Northern Cardinal   - Looks like they are non-migratory birds.
• Blackburnian Warbler - Start moving from north part of south America after April. They are abundant in north eastern USA from June to August then again move towards south America.

Scarlet Tanager with Western Tanager

• Scarlet Tanager - During non breeding season abundant in north eastern South America. Then move towards USA and breed in central to eastern part of USA. Post breeding migration start from September and they reach north eastern South America by December.
• Western Tanager - During non breeding season which looks longer than Scarlet tanager i.e Nov. to Mar. they are abundant in southern part of North America. April - June they migrate, they breed in western part of USA and Canada. Breeding period is very short,a month and they start moving towards south of North America within a month

Ruby-throated Hummingbird with Rufous Hummingbird

• Ruby-Throated Hummingbird - Non-breeding season and range are similar to Western Tanager i.e Nov. to March abundant in southern parts of North America. Mar - May is migration and breeding grounds are spread over from central to eastern USA, grounds are similar to Scarlet Tanager though the breeding period is smaller and Ruby-throated Hummingbird starts moving to non breeding range from Aug.
• Rufous Hummingbird - Non-breeding season Nov. to mid Feb in central Mexico. Migration period is Feb- April and they move parallel to the western coast of North America. Short breeding mid May to mid June period and range is North western USA and western Canada.

Sandhill Crane with Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

• Sandhill Crane - Short non breeding period , range is so scattered. During a four month long migration they are everywhere , there is no patter in the movement. Long breeding season and they breed all-over northern USA and Canada.
• Yellow-bellied Flycatcher- Such long non breeding season, almost half a year mid Nov. - mid April. Very short breeding season they breed in the lands north of USA.

Namaste to all, Activity 2 - Year round birds - Indian spot billed duck, Green bee-eater and Indian pond-heron Seasonal birds - White-naped woodpecker,Indian Golden Oriole and Pied Avocet.   Have seen white- naped woodpecker and Indian golden oriole. A co-worker who knew about my interest in birds clicked a picture of Indian golden oriole for me. It stayed in office premises for couple of days.

Activity 3 Male American Goldfinch- Throughout both summer and winter, the Goldfinch maintains its golden colour but its vibrancy changes with seasonality.  In the summer, the Goldfinch is  vibrant yellow throughout its body, with a distinct black patch on its crown and black and white wings.  In contrast, the winter Goldfinch is a dull yellow, with black and white wings and notably absent is the black patch on its crown.   Common Loons- The difference between a Common Loon in the summer as compared to the winter is quite striking.  In the summer they have a black and white checkered back, an iridescent black head with red eyes.  The loon's neck is distinct with a black and white striped ring, followed by another ring of iridescent black.   In the winter, all the regal colouring of the summer is muted to a grey and the red eyes are black.

In my area of rural Northeast Texas an ad lib Activity:  I have a peanut feeder and see 5 birds there. Carolina chickadee ,Carolina Wren, White-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker and Tufted Titmouse.  On my seed feeder I see Cardinals, white crowned sparrows, white necked sparrows.  Rarely see a house finch.  On the ground I see a brown thrashers, blue jays,  and a mourning dove pair.  Most exciting for me is a pair of black-bellied whistling ducks  Began coming to a pond near town 4 to 5 years ago at approximately the same time. They are really beautiful. Saw some red winged blackbirds at same pond yesterday.  Year round we have some Canada geese there also.