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Month: February 2026

February Recap

February Recap

Total Species Recorded: 52

February has come to an end, and I am halfway through my goal of recording 100 bird species. It may seem like I will reach that target number before summer begins, but it is already getting more difficult to add new species to my list. In fact, I have submitted recordings of several species only to later realize that I had already checked them off my list for the year.

Yet spring is just around the corner, which means that we will soon see a new batch of species infiltrate the region for breeding. Already the local breeding populations are loudly proclaiming their territories, such as the House Finches in my backyard that will sing nonstop, bringing me joy whenever I open up the windows.

In the coming weeks and months, new hummingbirds will fly through, flycatchers will pop in, and orioles will dazzle us with their brilliant colors. The switch from winter to spring will invite a whole new set of species to target for recording. But I’ll have to work fast because once paired up and nesting, the adult birds will largely go quiet as they care for their young in secret!

To read more posts about this challenge, see the dedicated Bird Recording Challenge 2026 web page or click on “Bird Recording Challenge 2026” under “Tags” at the bottom of this post.

Brief Spring Days

Brief Spring Days

Total Species Recorded: 45

Spring has gently appeared for a few sunny days in February. It’s been a welcomed change after weeks of heavy fog and chilly weather that dampened spirits. Even the birds have seemed melancholy in this heavy weather. In past years, some birds would start singing as early as January. Aside from the backyard White-crowned Sparrows singing a quick tune first thing in the morning, it’s been oddly quiet, adding to the solemn atmosphere.

Now that the sun has been poking out, suddenly the musical landscape has cheered up and the air is filled with song. House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches have been singing over each other in the same trees. Eurasian Collared-Doves are suddenly present, both cooing to potential mates and attacking competitors that dared to stray into their invisible territory. It’s been such a gloomy winter that even the starlings’ songs have been a welcomed change from the silent, gray cold days.

I have been waiting for the right moment to capture a recording of singing finches to add to my Big Recording Year list. As soon as the sun arrived, our backyard was suddenly filled with House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches, all sharing a tree for preening and the bird bath for drinking. Since House Finches are so common, I don’t always pay attention to them, but the recording project is reintroducing me to the complexity of their songs, making me appreciate them all the more. I’m happy that they are choosing to sing in my backyard giving me great opportunities to listen and observe.

This temporary spring won’t last long as a chilly rain is forecast to arrive soon. But for now, the birds are itching to get a mate and in spite of the expected return of cloudy weather, the birds are singing away!

To read more posts about this challenge, see the dedicated Bird Recording Challenge 2026 web page or click on “Bird Recording Challenge 2026” under “Tags” at the bottom of this post.

January Recap

January Recap

Total Species Recorded: 36

I am one month into my Big Recording Year, and it has certainly been a learning experience.

I do a lot of birding by ear, which means that I identify birds based on their calls or songs. When I set out on this goal to record 100 bird species, I thought it would be a relatively simple pursuit because of the frequency in which I identify birds by ear. The reality is turning out to be quite different.

Oftentimes I will hear a bird call just once, and that’s enough to identify it. To record it, however, I need the bird to continue to vocalize, as there’s the time needed to open up the Merlin app and get my microphone ready. Very often I’m left with an empty recording because the bird only sounded off once before going quiet or flying away. That has made recording tricky.

In spite of this, I’ve submitted recordings for 36 bird species in January. My absolute favorite experience so far was spending time with a small group of short eared owls. To hear their barks and screeches while they interacted with each other was magical.

January has been otherwise filled with seets, chips, and chups with a general lack of singing. I expect that to change soon as spring migration and the breeding season gets underway.

To read more posts about this challenge, see the dedicated Bird Recording Challenge 2026 web page or click on “Bird Recording Challenge 2026” under “Tags” at the bottom of this post.