GoGardenNews - Items of gardening and ecological interest — wildlife

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently discovered that wild white-tailed deer in four states - Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania - were exposed to SARS-CoV-2. None showed signs of critical illness. None were wearing masks.

In an undated article from MyMcClallumCounty.com, "Your backyard bird bath or feeder may be inadvertently sickening songbirds. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife says there have been surging reports of sick or dead birds at backyard feeders in parts of western Washington."

How would you like to join others in an organized bird count without leaving home? Yes, you can!

Each year during the month of February, the National Audubon Society conducts The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). The event lasts four days. It’s fun, easy, and it shouldn’t cost you dime.

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Aah, but I thought I'd ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

You could be bird-watching!

If you enjoy bird-watching, you might be interested in participating in the annual North American Breeding Bird Survey. The NBBS website states, “Each spring over 2500 skilled amateur birders and professional biologists volunteer to participate in the North American BBS.”