This November: Watch Birds, Help Science!
As temperatures cool, our backyard feeders become wonderful places to observe the birds that call New Mexico home. From House Finches and Black-capped Chickadees to the surprise Blue Jay, every bird counts. This November, why not turn your love of watching birds and backyard feeders into something even more meaningful?
Make Your Birdwatching Count!
Consider Project FeederWatch, a winter-long community science project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. From November through April, people across North America count birds visiting their yards, feeders, and bird-friendly spaces. You don't have to be an expert to participate! Whether you're a seasoned birder or just beginning to notice the birds outside your window, your observations can make a difference.
Your counts help scientists track bird populations, learn where species are moving, and identify long-term changes that can guide conservation efforts. The data help researchers identify long-term changes in where birds live, how abundant different species are, and how bird populations change over time.
Ready to get started? Visit Project FeederWatch to learn more and sign up. It's a simple way to enjoy your backyard birds while helping science! The season runs through April 30, so you can participate throughout the winter on a schedule that works for you. First-time participants in the United States can join at no cost using the registration code FIRSTPFW.
Listen for Us on 96.3 KKOB!
We're excited to share our passion for birds beyond the store. Tune in to Weekends with Terry on 96.3 KKOB, featuring PD St. Clair from WBU Albuquerque East and Santa Fe. The show airs live on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:00 am – 10:00 am. You can listen to the latest episode by clicking here. It's another opportunity to celebrate backyard birdwatching and share ideas for making our yards more welcoming to the birds we love.
November In-Store Happenings
Talk: Bring Birds to Your Backyard
Saturday, November 7 at 11 am
Join us for a presentation on turning your yard into a haven for local birds. We'll cover the essentials, from native plants, water sources, the right bird food, feeders, and shelter, so you can start attracting more birds right away.
Our speaker, Josiah Lavender, is an avian ecologist, bird guide and Ph.D. student at the University of New Mexico, where he studies avian ecology and evolution, focusing on how climate change affects migratory birds. He earned his B.S. in Ecology from the University of Georgia and has researched species including Painted Buntings and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers.
Talk: The Rosy Finches of the Sandia Mountains
Saturday, November 14 at 11 am
Join us for a fascinating look at the Rosy Finches that spend winter in the Sandia Mountains! We are happy to welcome Rio Grande Bird Research, Inc., a local nonprofit that studies these special visitors through ongoing research and bird banding. Learn about the project's history, the science behind bird banding, and the three types of Rosy-Finches that call the Sandias home in winter. Birdwatchers travel from across the country hoping to see these beautiful birds, and we're lucky to have this incredible opportunity right in our own backyard!
Roadrunner Foodbank Food Drive Through November 21
Help Us Feed Our Community! Bring nonperishable food donations into the shop and help make a difference for local families facing food insecurity. Every donation counts, and together, we can help put food on the table for our neighbors in need
Birdwatching Adventures in 2027
We're excited to partner with Reefs to Rockies for two unforgettable trips: a Costa Rica Cloud Forest Adventure, filled with incredible tropical birds and lush rainforest landscapes, and a Northern Minnesota adventure, featuring the legendary Sax-Zim Bog and its specialty boreal birds. Two amazing destinations, plenty of new birds, and memories waiting to be made!
Check out the details here.
Make This Winter Count
Every bird you notice offers an opportunity to learn something new. By participating in Project FeederWatch, you'll not only learn more about the birds visiting your backyard, but also help scientists understand bird populations across North America.
Plenty is happening at Wild Birds Unlimited Albuquerque East! Watch our store announcements and social media for more events, bird-feeding tips, travel opportunities and ways to connect with your local bird community.
With gratitude,
PD St. Clair
Regional Marketing Coordinator
WBU Albuquerque East, Santa Fe & Tucson Southeast