Activity 1: These animated range maps are the coolest thing! It's fascinating to be able to see practically week by week over the course of a bird's year where they are, where they're most abundant and try to imagine how they're traveling and why they spend time in specific locations. I would imagine the Blackburnian Warbler's small, highly-concentrated wintering range is because they need a very specific habitat that's only in that area, or because this way they avoid competition with other related birds. It was interesting that the Scarlet Tanager looks like its wintering population shifts throughout the winter, unlike the Blackburnian Warbler that stays focused in one winter range. And I was surprised to see how concentrated the Ruby-throated Hummingbird population is in Missouri in May - the place to be to see them in spring. Activity 2: Three local migrant birds are the Common Swift, Lapwing and Reed Warbler. I guess the large areas showing no data on the animated range maps for some birds are because there are no eBird observations from those areas - such as for the Swifts crossing the Sahara. It's interesting how the Lapwing's migration is east to west, from eastern Europe and China to spend the winter in north-western Europe. I didn't realize how the entire world population of Reed Warblers is concentrated in west Africa for the winter, in Mauretania, Senegal, and Gambia. It was surprising too how in February some move to around Lake Victoria, to then move up through the Nile Valley to cross the eastern Mediterranean. Definitely a little brown bird with a big story... Activity 3: The Goldfinch male has bright yellow breeding plumage, which must be the brown tips of his non-breeding plumage wearing off by spring to show the brighter colors. The same must be true of the Common Loon, but I wondered how his white throat and breast feathers wear off to reveal the black underneath.

Activity 1: Northern Cardinal- The Northern Cardinal stays put-does not migrate. Stays in eastern US. Blackburnian Warbler - The Warbler starts in the very norther part of South America (Colombia/Venezuela) and migrates to the southern part of Canada/northern north America.   Scarlet Tanager- Northern south America to eastern north America Western Tanager- West coast of Mexico to western America; leaves later than other birds   Ruby-throated Hummingbird- Southwestern Mexico to the entire eastern half of the US Rufous Hummingbird- Western Mexico during the winter and Washington during summer   Sandhill Crane- Southern and midwestern US to northern US and Canada Yellow-bellied Flycatcher- Winter months in the southern peninsula of north America then during the summer northern Canada.   Activity 2: Year-round residents: American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco Seasonal residents: American Tree-Sparow (non-breeding months/winter), Evening Grosbeak, Gray Catbird I have seen all of these around our bird feeders.  The Grosbeak I have only seen once in my life. We mostly have Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.   Activity 3: Male American Goldfinches - Summer: Very bright yellow, black and white wings - Winter: mousy-brown color and lose their vibrancy, the wings maintain the same black and white pattern but are not as strong colored as they were in the summer. Common Loons  - Summer: black head, white neck band, checkered black and white back and wings, red eyes - Winter: dark grey with a white breast, belly and wing lining. Eyes darken to a deep reddish-brown   Activity 4: My favorite spot is our birdfeeder. We have a lot of species that show up during the year. In 6 months, I would expect to see Red-winged Blackbirds, possibly the Pileated Woodpecker couple that live near us, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Goldfinches, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (maybe Evening Grosbeaks too!). Year-round we have Blue Jays, Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, a variety of Woodpeckers (Downy, Red-bellied, Hairy), Mourning Doves, and an array of Finches.

Activity 4: I live in Brussels, Belgium and my favorite local birdwatching spot is a small nature reserve at the edge of the Sonian Forest, with two big ponds, reedbeds, woodland and some open areas. On January 8th I saw a lot of Eurasian Coots, Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Gadwall and some Mute Swans on the smaller pond. There was also  a Little Grebe. Some Egyptian Geese, Black-headed Gulls, Gray Herons and Great Cormorants flew over from the bigger pond nearby. In the trees and park areas I heard Stock Doves "singing", Eurasian Jays, a Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Jackdaw, Magpie and a Gray Wagtail. Six months from now almost all these birds will still be at the reserve, except for the Black-headed Gulls that are only there in the winter. The big difference will be the pairs of Reed Warblers that will have arrived (from Africa!) to breed in the reeds along the edge of the ponds. There should also be Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Song Thrushes and Great Crested Grebes breeding in the reserve. During the summer House Martins and Swallows also often fly over the ponds to catch insects, and there will be swifts, and maybe even a Kingfisher nesting in the special nesting bank built by the bigger pond.

Activity 2: three species that are year-round residents- Florida

• Mourning Dove
• Osprey
• Sandhill Crane

three that only live in your area for part of the year- Florida

• Palm Warbler
• Bald Eagle
• Swallow-tailed Kite

Activity  2.  Living in Connecticut  we have the  Black  Capped Chickadee,, White  Breasted  Nuthatch, and the Northern Cardinals year round.  When  I  go for  a walk  in the woods  the Black Capped Chickadee  follow me. They even sing now and then.  In the  spring  I can't  wait for the  Ruby Throated Hummingbird to arrive at my window box.  You know when it is  spring when  the Eastern  Towhee and the  Rose Breasted  Grosbeak come home for the summer.

Activity 2:  Three species that are year-round residents in Illinois are the Northern Cardinal, the Blue Jay, and the American Goldfinch.  One notable feature is their colorful plumage.  Three species that are residents in Illinois for part of the year are the American Robin, the Common Grackle, and the Hummingbird.  They arrive in spring and go south in winter.  Activity 3:  Male American Goldfinch.  The bill is pink in summer and grayish-brown in winter. They are bright yellow with black wings, tails, and foreheads in spring and summer.  In winter, they are olive-brown with wing bars.  Common Loon. Breeding adults have black and white patterning, a black head with an iridescent sheen, and boldly checkered back.  Non-breeding adults have plumage that is plainer gray above and white below with a border between gray and white on the neck.  In winter, adult loons experience a full body molt.  Their eye color also changes with the season.  They have red eyes in summer and brown eyes in winter.  Activity 4:  Birds that I expect to view from my favorite spot now:  Northern Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco, House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Purple Finch.  Birds that I expect to see in the next six months:  American Robin, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch, Mourning Dove, Common Grackle, Blue Jay, House Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-winged Blackbird.

I notice the American Goldfinch is a brighter yellow in the summer during breeding season and is less vibrant in the winter.  The Common Loon is more distinctly black and white in the summer during breeding season and a grayish brown during the winter.  Birds are safer from predators if they do not stand out in the winter months when they do not need to attract a mate.

#1 I live in Southwest Ohio.  Using Merlin's Likely Birds feature, I  notice these year-round birds in our area: Northern Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, and Red-Breasted Woodpeckers.  House Wrens, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, and Purple Finch migrate through our area.  We await their arrival, especially at our backyard feeders.

eBirds Status and Trends maps of abundance and migration are interesting.  In Southwest Ohio we see Northern Cardinals year round.  I have not seen Blackburnian Warblers which I now realize migrate in the spring and fall through Ohio but do not remain here.  No wonder this bird is new to me.

Cape May is one of the most popular birding areas near me, and I would expect to see many migratory birds there on their way to the south (their names, I wouldn't know.) It's why I would stipulate that the Cape May Birding Festival occurs in October of every year.

Breeding plumage vs non-breeding plumage seems to be bright stand-out coloured plumage for summer and duller more camouflage plumage for winter. Perhaps the bright colours are to attract a mate during breeding season? The duller colours during non breeding plumage are perhaps to camouflage with their surroundings more? This would be useful for water birds, as I believe they go through a period of molt where they are unable to fly, so it would benefit them to blend in with their surrounds so as to not be seen as well by predators.

Activity 1: Northern Cardinal doesn’t migrate that much throughout the year-stays primarily in the U.S. and a few areas in Mexico year round. Blackburnian Warbler travels great distances- wintering primarily in South America and parts of Central America, and migrating to northern U.S. and Canada for breeding season. Scarlet Tanager winters in South America and migrates to central and eastern U.S. and parts of Canada during breeding season. Western Tanager winters along the coasts of Central America and Mexico and migrates to western U.S. and Canada during breeding season. Ruby-throated Hummingbird winters in Mexico and Central America and migrates to central and eastern U.S. and parts of Canada during breeding season-very spread out in those areas. Rufous Hummingbird winters in Mexico and migrates to coastal areas of western U.S. and Canada for spring, then spreads out southward into western U.S. in summer- perhaps following the food/flower supply. Yellow-bellied flycatcher winters in southern Mexico and Central America, and migrates to far northern portions of western, central and eastern Canada as well as New England. Sandhill Crane breaks up into different groups that winter in southern U.S., Mexico, and Florida; they summer in various parts of northern Canada and the U.S.-some birds remain in Florida all year round. Activity 2:  Birds that do not winter in my area that I have seen: Snowy Egret, Osprey, and Great Blue Heron. Birds that are found year-round in my area that I have seen: Peregrine Falcon, American Robin and Northern Cardinal. Activity 3: American Goldfinch in summer is bright yellow with black wings and tail and beak is bright orange; in winter their yellow is muted and blended with beige-their beaks are brown/black. Common Loons in summer have strikingly beautiful white and black stripes and checker pattern on neck and body,  black head/hood with a teal band around the neck, black beak; in winter the dorsal side of bird is a muted brown/black and the underside from beak to tail is white, whitish beak with black blended in part of it. Activity 4: Favorite birding spot is DeKorte Park wetlands. Expect to see now in September but won’t see them in March: Laughing Gull, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Osprey, Snowy Egret, Spotted Sandpiper.

Activity 4: One of my favorite places to go birding is the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Boynton Beach FL. it's a great oasis for many wadding birds and the breeding season is amazing. there is always some birds of many species but during the breeding season there a lot of birds of many species. It's great because it not only has the wetlands it also has a little wooded area too so even more species. If i recall the 2 bird species that have large quantities of nests in the area are the Wood Stork and Anhingas. A random trip there no matter the season will likely see herons, egrets, gallinules and various waterfowl. I'm excited to visit there again with all this new found bird knowledge in hopes to ID even more birds.

Activity 3: The male American Goldfinch in summer is this brilliant bird of yellow with dramatic black wings with some white bars on the wings and some percent of their head wearing a black cap. The winter bird loses its brilliant yellow color for a more muted yellow or more tan color. the dramatic black wings remain, with the white bars. I have not seen this bird in person. They seem to be infrequent in South Florida, only in the winter in some areas, but I will keep my eyes open for that winter plumage.  The Common Loon has some striking plumage in the summer. A jet black head with a checkered body. His neck has some black and white stripes with a bit of iridescent color. The winter bird looks completely different in his plumage. he loses his flash and turns to a drab bird with a grey black back side, neck and head and a white under side and throat. I have not seen a Common loon. they don't seem to make it to south Florida and they come through Chincoteague VA in the winter when I will not be here. they are in northern Canada in the spring and summer. Maybe one day I'll get to see that breeding plumage in person, very stunning.

Activity 2: Three species in my area (Chincoteague, VA) that are year round residents would be the Canada goose, the American Oystercatcher, and the Bald Eagle. I have seen all of these species in the area. the Canada goose on a daily basis, the Bald Eagle just once or twice and the American Oystercatcher somewhere in between those frequencies. Three species that only live in the area for part of the year is the Merlin, the ruby throated hummingbird and the great crested flycatcher. I have not seen the Merlin but they show up and stay in the fall and winter and I'm only here for the summer. I'm sure they show up for the travelling waterfowl. The ruby throated hummingbird I have seen. they are here for the spring and summer months. I've seen a few in the time I've been here. The great crested flycatcher I have not seen. They are also here for the spring through beginning of fall months. I've listened to their calls and they don't sound completely foreign to me so maybe I have heard them and didn't even know it. I will definitely be on the look out and listen out for them during my remaining time here.

Activity 1: It was so interesting to see the different range maps and migrations of these chosen species. With the Cardinal I noticed there wasn't really any migration maybe just a bit here and there. For the most part cardinals are around year round. The Blackburnian Warblers winter in the north western countries of South America. The abundance has an interesting pattern, maybe influenced by a river or mountains. They summer in Canada and the Northeast states of U.S. It looks like their path is north through central American countries and south Mexico and then they fly over the gulf perhaps. The Scarlet Tanager winters in the northwest countries of South America and summers in Northeast U.S and Canada. Their summers abundance show a high abundance in and around the Appalachian mountains. The Western Tanager winters in Mexico and the central America countries. They summer in western U.S and Canada. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird winters in the South of Mexico and the central American countries. they summer in the east half of U.S and some in Canada. The Rufous Hummingbird winters in Mexico and spends the summer on the west coast of U.S and Canada. I found their migrations interesting. Travelling North they really stay along the coast. Travelling South they spread further east into Texas. Maybe has something to do with the Rocky mountains and weather at the different times of year. The Sandhill Crane spends the winters in dense populations in Texas, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky and California and some other states. They spend the summer s in North Canada and Alaska with some populations in northern U.S states like Montana, Idaho, Michigan with an outlier population in Florida. Their migration path is interesting too. Headed North they stay in their respective flyways and merge together in the Central Northern States, then spread north all over Canada. The Yellow-bellied Flycatcher winters in central American countries and spends the summers in Eastern Canada and some in western Canada. They migrate through Mexico and central U.S than spreads out throughout Canada. These migration paths are so interesting. I'd love to see their relations to elevations of the land.

Activity 2: The three birds that live around in my area all year around are the American Goldfinch, the Cedar Waxwing, and the Mallard. The other three birds however that only stay in my area for a bit and migrate are the Dark-eyed junco, the Chipping Sparrow, and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The birds I listed that stay all year around I would see them quite often at my bird feeders or hiking and would see the ducks mostly Mallards at a pond or a lake. The birds that pass through are the Dark-eyed junco and at the time I did not know what they were are until I started looking through my bird identification books. The Chipping Sparrow was a bird I never saw before in the area. I read how they would come by here in the summer time for breeding and would go South. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak I saw in the begging of May going to my feeders. These birds migrate late in the spring and early in the fall.

• Activity 2: Migrant birds: Golden-crowned Sparrow, Green Heron, Chipping Sparrow.
• I chose these three because I see the Golden-crowns a lot when they're here, the Heron rarely, and I've only gotten one Chipping Sparrow, and that after an exhaustive study of one recording I had during peak migration. I can never find that thing, especially in my home county; every time I think I've got it for sure this time, I track it down and it's a Dark-eyed Junco. doing it's level-best to sound just like a Chipping Sparrow. We are just barely on the western fringes of their breeding range here in the northern Willamette Valley, but while not exactly common, they don't appear to be too rare here. Except for me.
• Green Herons I've gotten better at finding, or maybe they're just more abundant here during the summer than during earlier migration; I've birded with varying degrees of intensity for a decade or so now, but this is my first year of birding every day for months on end so I'm still learning so much. This is also not exactly a Green Heron hot spot, but they are here.
• I consider the GC to be my 'spark sparrow;' when I first started birding and saw these chubby little guys with the brilliant yellow and white crown stripes I just thought they were the coolest thing ever, and I miss them when they're gone. I'm really hoping to get one for my back yard list one day, but I don't think I have the right habitat. Maybe one'll pass through for me someday while I happen to be watching or listening.
• My year-round birds are the Dark-eyed Junco, American Robin and Great Blue Heron. I was under the mistaken impression that the Juncos were snowbirds here; (we mostly get the Oregon group (appropriate, being that I live in Oregon) but I have gotten one of the much more rare (for here) cismontane 'Cassiar' juncos, so that was really cool. Saw him twice a week apart, hanging with some Oregon birds way out in the woods. We appear to be at the northern edge of a patch in the Willamette Valley where they disappear for part of the summer, and while I do get them much more rarely now, I don't think they ever disappear entirely. But I enjoy the flocks that come to scratch in my yard in the winter.
• Robins, the quintessential American bird. I was surprised to find that they migrate because they seem so common, but they are much more scarce around here these days than they were  a couple months ago. When the Western Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks arrive it can sometimes drive me crazy trying to suss out the songs between the three, but I keep getting better the more I listen.
• The Great Blue Heron is another favorite. Herons remind me that birds are dinosaurs maybe more than any other bird; I always find myself very glad that I'm not a fish or a frog whenever I spot any type of heron on the hunt. They are the official city bird of Portland; they are very abundant here because it's so wet, but they are fairly common throughout most of the state. There's been a push for some time to change the Oregon state bird from the Western Meadowlark to the Great Blue. Nothing against the Meadowlark, other than it's the state bird for like 6 states, and so far as I know, the Great Blue isn't the official bird of any state. Some originality here, please.
• Activity 4: My favorite local spot is Boardman Wetlands, and the birds I most expect to find here now are Mallards (always), Red-winged Blackbirds, and Song Sparrows. In 6 months there will probably be a lot of Green-winged Teal, and some Buffleheads and if I'm lucky some Common Mergansers, which are my spark bird.

For activity 2 I will briefly describe 3 birds that are residents in my area, and then find 3 likely birds I would see in my area 6 months from now.

• Residents: House finch, American Crow, and Mourning Dove.

I regularly see these birds in my neighborhood year round. The house finches are very timid of my presence, much less so than the larger mourning doves. The american crows enjoy perching on bare branches around the neighborhood or the street lights. Sometimes I see groups of three foraging or calling, too.

• Migrants: White crowned sparrow, Ruby Crowned Kinglet, American Pipit.

The white-crowned sparrows are my favorite migrant here. I first noticed them during my time in college, and noted their disappearance in the spring and summer before I started birdwatching. They are present in some U.S. areas year round, but here they are non-breeding during the winter and fall. The Ruby Crowned Kinglet is a bird I only recently learned was migratory. I no longer hear its short grating calls in the bushes or trees this season, but look forward to seeing them again, months from now. I've seen large flocks of American pipits in a local community park in the grass. After looking at their distribution on the ebird app, I do notice that I haven't seen any recently. They arrive here in the fall and stay up until late spring.

In my community, Canada geese, mallards, blue jays, bald eagles, and mourning doves are year-round residents.  The arrival of American robins and red-winged blackbirds are an event every March.  This year I hope to see an Eastern bluebird, which lives here in summer and fall.  I've never seen one! The animated range maps are fascinating.  Watching the migration patterns over my state was very enlightening.

I chose to complete Activity 3 since I recently got a finch feeder. I had no idea that the color differences in the male American goldfinches were so different! I *think* I've actually been seeing them without realizing who they were!

I like loons, but only was familiar with summer common loons. As I got more into birding in the last few years, I became familiar with winter common loons. I didn't realize they changed coloration for some reason, until I saw an injured one near my park. I called on it and they captured it for rehab. There's not a lot that stick around our area--most just pass through on their way to northern Michigan. Because of the color change in another group of birds, I signed up for the course on warblers so I can identify them better when they pass through in spring and fall.

Birds that are here all year Canada Geese- even though I live in Seattle, not Canada, the Canada Goose is a year round resident at my local lake. They are huge and messy and aggressive on land. They seem much less vexing when they are on the water. Black Capped Chickadee - mentioned in the opening video to this module, this little bird is a year round resident and is pretty easy to see and hear in neighborhoods. Glaucous Winged Gull - I live near the water and this gull is by far the most common in the area.   Birds that Migrate  - I took a waterfowl class and lots of ducks come to the Puget Sound area from Canada and Alaska to overwinter. Horned Grebe - a small slender diving duck that I've confused with the Western Grebe. Brant - a large elegant duck that I've seen in recent weeks in large flocks that challenged my bird counting abilities. American Wigeon - A medium sized duck that I often see hanging out in large flocks.

Activity 2: I've seen tons of the year round residents: cardinal, blue jay, red-bellied woodpecker, tufted titmouse...lots more. For part-timers, this year I met pine siskins. I've seen hooded mergansers, which according to Merlin are "likely" in my zip code but not year-round, although the map does say that this area is within their year-round habitat. Still hoping to see some sandhillls fly over...

Activity 1: Northern Cardinal (Doesn’t change location much, but amount does change.)  with Blackburnian Warbler (moves a long distance) Scarlet Tanager with Western Tanager  Similar but opposite sides of the country.  Both go down to Central America. Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Eastern US down to Central America)  with Rufous Hummingbird (Mexico to Canada) Sandhill Crane (Alaska & Canada, Florida)  with Yellow-bellied (Eastern Canada & Central America) Flycatcher What stands out to you about them? What patterns do you notice? Does anything surprise you? Share your observations in the discussion. Activity 2: Year Round: Great Blue Heron,  Ring-Necked Pheasant, Mourning Dove Part of the Year:  Bald Eagle, Merlin, Red-Headed Woodpecker I’ve seen a Red-headed Woodpecker, and a Ring-Necked Pheasant.  I’ve heard a Mourning Dove. Activity 3: Goldfinches in winter have much more subdued colors than in summer. Black cap of summer is missing in winter. Loons in summer have vibrant greens and browns while those in winter have mostly dull browns and sometimes white. Loons in summer have a black & white pattern on their backs, but those in winter have patterns with less contrast. Activity 4: My favorite birding spot is the feeder outside our house.  I expect to find Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves. In 6 months:  I expect to find these same birds.