An insightful photograph that shows the difference in size and bill length between the larger Hairy Woodpecker and a male Downy Woodpecker on a suet feeder (photo by Derek Spencer).

Saturday November 1st is the first day to identify and count birds during the 39th season of Project FeederWatch. Many birders have already signed up, but if you haven't registered yet you can join this season’s activities today. Remember, you don't even need feeders to participate, but it’s more fun if you have a feeding station and bird bath to attract birds. You can count for short periods or as long a period of time as you prefer, it’s all up to you, but your participation is always greatly appreciated. This week, Project FeederWatch also announced that the species Trend Graphs and lists of the Top 25 Species reported by state, province, and region have been updated.

You can learn more about Project FeederWatch and how to join the excitement of the new season at Join, Renew, or Donate - FeederWatch. You can also get interesting insights about the 25 most common birds reported during FeederWatch observation in each state and province at Top 25 Feeder Birds (feederwatch.org) and Trend Graphs - FeederWatch – see which species were most frequently reported in your area year by year. Project FeederWatch is a joint North American venture between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada.