brushes with nature | Brooklyn Feed

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This Friday is the annual backyard bird count, where people from all over the country count the birds they run across. It goes from Feb. 13-16th. Counting birds helps answer many questions such as:

* How will this winter’s snow and cold temperatures influence bird populations?
* Where are winter finches and other “irruptive” species that appear in large numbers during some years but not others?
* How will the timing of birds’ migrations compare with past years?
* How are bird diseases, such as West Nile virus, affecting birds in different regions?
* What kinds of differences in bird diversity are apparent in cities versus suburban, rural, and natural areas?
* Are any birds undergoing worrisome declines that point to the need for conservation attention?

Here’s some information for how you can participate.
IT’S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3!

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, February 13–16, 2009. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you’re likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number or each species you see on this checklist.

3. When you’re finished, enter your results through our web page. You’ll see a button marked “Enter Your Checklists!” on the website home page beginning on the first day of the count (February 13, 2009). It will remain active until the deadline for data submission on March 1, 2009.

Some people find it helpful to fill out the form before entering it on the website. By printing it off ahead of time, they know what information they need to be aware of, such as snow depth, for example.

If you’re new to bird watching, you might want to check out our “Learn About Birds” section. You’ll find help with tricky bird identifications, choosing binoculars, bird feeding tips, and much more.

So I know that this blog is supposed to be all about all things urban, and it hasn’t been lately. I went to France with my sister to visit my father. He’s not well, so he spent a lot of time sleeping. During his afternoon naps, my sister and I went out on photo safaris. And just for the record…although I live in one of the biggest cities, I am a nature lover. We go up to the Berkshires to visit my husband’s family and I soak in as much nature as I can while I’m there.

So while my father was resting and the relentless French hunters were in the woods shooting, my sister and I walked in the woods (wearing bright colors thank you very much) and took photos. We were absolutely amazed at the diversity of mushrooms.

We ran into a man who was mushroom hunting. He was an elegant older gentleman with a white handlebar mustache. I couldn’t have made up a more perfect French mushroom hunter if I tried. Okay, I guess I would have given him a basket instead of a plastic shopping bag, but I doubt I would have thought of the mustache. I spoke with him in my halting French and asked him what he was looking for. He had two different types of mushrooms that we never did see ourselves. One was a charcoal gray mushroom and one was called sanguine, or something like that with blood (sang) at the beginning of the word. That was very descriptive, because where the mushroom was broken, red liquid seeped out of it. It left very believable blood drops on the sides of his bag.

Below are a few of the mushrooms we saw. The tiny yellow ones that look like the ends of a pencil eraser are called bird’s nests. When the spores are ready the tops come off and you see tiny little puff balls inside the nest that resemble eggs. Absolutely tiny and amazing!