Activity 2:  For year- round residents I picked Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, and Tufted Titmouse. For part year residents I selected White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Yellow-rumped Warbler.  All of these birds are visitors to my yard. It will soon be time for my selected part year visitors to leave for the summer to be replaced by Wood Thrushes, Scarlet Tanagers and Summer Tanagers. Activity 3:  Summer male American Goldfinches are a sunny yellow with black cap and wings.  During winter they become a drab brown color.  A Common Loon is beautiful in the summer, sporting black and white checkered feathers, and a solid black head.  All this turns to drab gray above with white below in the winter. Activity 4:  I like to visit various parks and greenways in my area.  Birds I would expect to see now include Robins, Blue Jays, Northern Mockingbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, White-throated sparrows, American and Fish Crows.   In the summer I may see Scarlet Tanagers, Summer Tanagers, Wood Thrushes, Red-throated Hummingbirds, Great Crested Flycatchers and various swallows.

Activity 4: I've been visiting the fresh-water Ventura Ponds in Southern California regularly for five years now and I definitely see patterns.  Right now (late winter/early spring) is the best when a whole array of waterfowl show up including Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup (below), Cinnamon Teal (below), Ruddy Ducks are in abundance.  By Summer, they will be gone leaving only Mallards and Coots.  In the nearby harbor, Western Grebe and Buffleheads show up in November and are gone by April.

Three birds that I see year round in Nebraska at my feeders are the Northern Cardinals, house sparrows and Bluejays.  Three that I see only part of the year are robins, finches and hummingbirds.  They leave for warmer weather as winter approaches.

Activity 2: Using Merlin’s “Likely Birds” feature, I have chosen three species that are year-round residents in Chicago: common goldeneye, black-capped chickadee, and downy woodpecker. Each of these species I see regularly, probably every day. Additionally, I have chosen three species that only live in my area for part of the year: barn swallow, ruby-throated hummingbird, and yellow warbler. These species come in spring and leave in the fall.

Activity 3: Birds that undergo a plumage change over the year will sometimes see a sharp change in their colors as the seasons pass. For example, a Goldfinch, which in May and the Summer breeding period will have a distinct bright yellow color, will gradually transition to a more drab, dull almost brown during the winter months. The color change may have to do with the shift from mating to winter survival. Blue Jays, on the other hand, while they do molt, retain their colors even as new feathers come in.

Three birds that I see year round at my feeders are the Eurasian  Tree Sparrow, Mourning Doves, and Goldfinches. I am new to birding and I recently learned that the Eurasian Tree Sparrow is only found in the St. Louis region in North America. A dozen Sparrows were released in the area in the 1870's and have stayed in this region. Three birds that are just here for the winter are the Dark-eyed Junco, the American Tree Sparrow and the Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Activity 2: I live on Hilton Head Island. I love all the shorebirds, waterbirds, raptors, and songbirds that live here. Three that I see year-round are Anhingas (aka snakebird), Wood Storks, and White Ibis. I have different locations across the island that I can see these birds anytime of the year that I would like. The Anhingas and Wood Storks are usually spotted somewhere near a water source (fresh or salt) and the White Ibis are literally everywhere in every type of environment. I see the Ibis on the marshy side of the beach and I see them in my backyard. Three that are temporary residents are Mississippi Kites, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, and Eastern Phoebes. Mississippi Kites took up residence over the summer as two adults raised 2 juveniles high in the canopy of the pine trees in our backyard. From sun up to sundown they were squawking for food. They were very cool to watch as they grew. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are winter migrants and are not hard to find in the local parks. Eastern Phoebes are also easy to spot in the park or even the backyard perched on a tree branch or the top of the feeder.

As a backyard birder in Michigan it always makes me happy to see Northern Cardinals, BC Chickadees, Goldfinches and White-Breasted Nuthatches year round at my feeders. In the next six months I expect Red-Winged Blackbirds, Robins, and Baltimore Orioles. currently i've been seeing a lot of Dark-eyed juncos, a seasonal bird here in Michigan. and i expect to soon see a lot more Buffleheads, Canvasbacks, and Mallards, as they enjoy the ice on the river I live on.

As for Backyard birding, I love the Spotted Towhees, Robins, BC Chickadees, year round feeder visitors. Anna's Hummingbirds nest in my bushes (yearround) while Rufous is a migrator. As for Ocean shorebirds , This summer we saw Tufted Puffins, Brown Pelicans, OysterCatchers, Murres, Pigeon Guillmonts at the beaches ( ocean and rocky crevices) of WA and Or. (migration)

I love birding at Union Bay Nature Preserve (Seattle WA) each season and love migration ex:,Wigeons, Wood Ducks, Gadwalls of fall make way for the Swans and Northern Shovelers of winter. Year round Great Blue Heron and Bald Eagles, ate joined by today's Green Heron.

Three year-round residents in the Vancouver, Canada area that are on my life list are Great Blue Heron, Spotted Towhee, and Black-Capped Chickadee, while three year-round residents in the Vancouver, Canada area that are on not yet on my life list are Red-breasted Nuthatch, Double-breasted Cormorant, and the Northern Shoveler. In contrast, three bird species that are found in the Vancouver, Canada area for only part of the year that are also on my life list are Wilson's Warbler, Warbling Vireo, and Rufous Hummingbird, while three bird species that are found in the Vancouver, Canada area for only part of the year that are not yet on my life list are Pacific-Slope Flycatcher, Caspian Tern, and Lesser Yellowlegs.

The markings that common loon are known for, the interspersed black and white pretty much all over the body, are prevalent during the summer months, and greatly subdued in the winter months, often replaced by duller white markings interspersed with brown markings.

A favorite birding location in the Vancouver, Canada area is the Reifel Bird Sanctuary.  As an example of how bird species move in and out of this sanctuary, Snow Goose, Bufflehead, and Trumpeter Swan are relatively less common now (August) than they typically are in February, while the reverse is the case for Cinnamon Teal, Kildeer, and the Tree Swallow.

Ruby-throated hummingbird and Rufous Hummingbird overwinter in the same location (Mexico) but the formal breeds in eastern North America while the latter breeds in western North America. The Scarlet Tanager moves between northern South America (winter) and eastern North America, while the Western Tanager moves between Mexico and Latin America (winter) and western North America (summer).

Activity #3: The plumage of the male American Goldfinch in winter is much more vibrant and colorful...Bright yellow with a black crown. When I historically thought of an American Goldfinch, this is what I imagined. The plummage in the summer however, is more pale, drab, and blended. It resembles the female. The same is true for the Common Loon. The Loon loses it's gorgeous black colorations for more drab and plain feathers. Are the summer feathers of these two birds examples of eclipse plummage?

We live in the Adirondacks. Our favorite spots are Little Green Pond and Mountain Pond June through October as the Loons are there and it is breeding time. Also, no Goldfinch pictures today.

Note that the Northern Cardinal abundance animation is not available today, June 6, 2022.

All year residents of where I live: Wood ducks, Killdeer and Mourning Doves. Funny enough, I have yet to see a Wood Duck close up! And randomly, there are dozens of Killdeer that hang out in the gravelly construction area and rain reservoir around my apartment building. Mourning Doves have been my favorite for a while now, so I find them easy to identify through sight and sound. Part of the year residents where I live: BlueWinged Teal, Mississippi Kite and Common Nighthawk. I haven’t spotted any of these, but used the Merlin Sound ID once on a golf course and it ID-ed the Common Nighthawk. This is one I would love to see in person!

Activity 3: Male American Goldfinch (Breeding): The yellow in most of its body is more intense. Intense dark with white patches in the lower part of the wing and in the forehead. The beak is orange. Nonbreeding: Brown/yellowish head with no black parts over the beak; white patches on dark gray on the wings. Common Loon: In Summer colors of the plumage are more intense. Black in the neck with some stripes in the neck that go all along the lower part of the body. Black with white spots in the back. In Winter colors are dull, more grayish. The red in the eyes is the same in Summer and Winter. Activity 4: Birding Spot: Dora Kelley Nature Park: What I expect to find now: Acadian Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Gray Catbird, Chimney Swift. Eastern Wood-Pewee, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, Wood Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler. What I expect to find in six months: all year residents such as Northern Cardinal, Red-Shoulder Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Robin, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, European Starling, House Sparrow, Song Sparrow.

ACTIVITY 1: Its interesting how many winter in Central and South America and then head to Canada to breed. Also interesting many birds like both the Summer Tanager and the Western Tanager avoid the Great Plains in both directions of their migration.  I imaging food and shelter aren't nearly as plentiful for these types. Its amazing how far those little hummingbirds travel.  I wonder why so many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds concentrate in my home state of Missouri. The Sandhill Crane's migration from the Southern US and Northern Mexico to the far north and even parts of Siberia really shocked me.  I also thought it was interesting that a small portion of them just stay in Florida the whole year. ACTIVITY 2:  My year-rounds in Missouri are the Northern Cardinal, Killdeer, and Northern Bobwhite.  I see cardinals all of the time and Killdeer frequently.  This spring was the first time I'd seen or heard a Bobwhite since I was a kid. My part of the year birds are the Common Gallinule, Screech Owl, and the Scissor-tailed flycatcher.  Of these three, I have only seen the Screech Owl, way back in 2011, and for years I thought I had seen a similarly small Northern Saw-whet owl.  The Common Gallinule and the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher are definite goals of mine.  The latter seems like a long shot. ACTIVITY 3: It is interesting how the male American Goldfinch becomes duller but also, id a way, more ornate with bars appearing on its wings.  The breeding male Common Loon reminds me of a wealthy elderly woman wearing chunky jewelry and expensive clothes while out shopping.  The non-breeding winter type reminds me of that wealthy woman's landscaper. ACTIVITY 4: I expect Bald Eagles, hawks, and Cardinals to still be there.  I imagine the area will be a haven for wintering American Robins.  Perhaps some waterfowl but I'm not sure.  Obviously the Canada Geese will still be there.

- Year-round residents (Northern Virginia) Carolina Chickadee/ Tufted Titmouse/ White-breasted Nuthatch: the three of them share the same habitat. Both, the White-breasted Nuthatch and the Carolina Chickadee are smaller, but they have specific behaviors. Although they also share the same colors in their plumage their shape is distinct. Their calls are also very particular for each one of them. I hear them and see them all the time, even in the winter they are abundant. - Residents for part of the year: Gray Catbird/ Yellow Warbler/ Wood Thrush: Ii saw the Wood Thrush for the first time last year in the Summer. While birding I was intrigued by this flute-like call that sounded as if it was actually calling me. I waited and followed it until I saw it, a very pleasant finding. I noticed a Gray Catbird last year in the Summer too, then searched information about it and saw it with my binoculars when chirping the cat-like call. Then this year starting in Spring I have seen many of them flying around and with the help of the Merlin ID I have learned more types of its calls, very diverse and lively. The Yellow Warbler I saw it for the first time three weeks ago and was a very pleasant view of a yellow little thing flying close to a river.  Then I searched  more information about it.           Wood Thrush

Activity 1: - The Northern Cardinal is abundant in Northeast of US all year round. The Blackburnian Warbler is abundant in this region and Canada in breeding season (June-August). During the pre-breeding season the last one is spread in East US, Central America and along the Andes Range in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. In Non-breeding season (December-beginning of March) it is abundant in Costa Rica, mountains of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru. (In Northern Virginia, where I live is abundant in May and June) - The Scarlet Tanager is abundant in the Eastern US in breeding season and in winter flies to Central and South America. (In Northern Virginia we can look for it in May and June). The Western Tanager is abundant in Western US; between July and November it spreads and flies South to Western Mexico and Central America up to Costa Rica. - The Ruby Throated Hummingbird is abundant in Central America between October and March; in April starts migrating North to Eastern US and Canada. The Rufous Hummingbird is plentiful in Western Canada and Northwest US in breeding season; in June starts migrating South. Between October and March most of them will stay in Mexico. - Sandhill Crane: in breeding season spreads in all Canada and Alaska; in August migrates to Central America and Florida. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: Between May and August spreads in Eastern Canada, then flies South and stays in Central America during the winter.

Glad to know about the migration patterns; in my area Terns visit, so I can now plan when to see Artic Terns as they take a rest from their veriy long journey! So amazing about Godwits' that fly non-stop! Also glad to know about a compromise was reached between Aududon & the 9/11 Lights! Great things happen with knowledge & undertanding! Jeanne

3. Because of molting, Goldfinches are dull in color until spring, when they become bright yellow. I had noticed this at out thistle feeder. I don’t see much difference in the markings on a male common loon. 4. My best local place to find birds is Short Ridge Park in Wynnewood, PA. The grassy area is ringed with large trees of various sorts and a creek runs through the park. During the recent spring, I have heard the usual sparrows plus an American Robin, a golden-crowned Kinglet, a Pine Warbler and a Dark-eyed Junco. In six months I expect to see or hear the sparrows, the Golden-crowned Kinglet and the Dark-eyed Junco, but not the Pine Warbler.

2. Most of the birds I see are year around. These include the Northern Cardinal, the Red-tailed Hawk and the White-throated Sparrow. They also seem to be in predictable locations. This spring, I have spied a yellow-rumpled warbler, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird and a Pine Warbler and I think I can predict where to find them, but only at a certain time of the year.