The Birdstack Blog

Birds of the Solstice is a project to document birdlife around the world during the December solstice, which is this coming Monday or Tuesday (depending on your location) — 21 December at 5:47 p.m. UTC (that’s Monday at 12:47 p.m. in New York and Tuesday at 4:47 a.m. in Sydney). We want to hear from you, wherever you are that day! Here’s how.

Depending on your cultural outlook, solstice marks either the beginning or the midpoint of a season. Depending on your hemisphere, that season is either winter or summer.

It’s an excellent time to stop and reflect on the birds around you. For me, few things say “winter” as eloquently as the burry call of a chickadee on cold, frosty air.

At some point within 12 hours either side of the solstice, go birding — even if it’s just by looking out your window for 10 minutes. Record your observations in a trip on Birdstack. Take pictures. Blog your thoughts. Here are more ideas, an official timetable for participation, and the rules.

There are Birdstackers on six continents, and we’d love to have participation from Tasmania to Finland and from Capetown to Gujarat. By December 31, we’ll post a compilation page with your observations, pictures, and thoughts.

If you would like to promote Birds of the Solstice on your blog, you can copy and paste either of these code snippets:

Banner (500px by 110px):
<a href="http://birdstack.com/solar-birding/december-solstice-2009"><img src="http://birdstack.com/images/solstice-banner.jpg" alt="Birds of the Solstice" title="Birds of the Solstice, a Birdstack community project" /></a>

or

Button (165px by 165px):
<a href="http://birdstack.com/solar-birding/december-solstice-2009"><img src="http://birdstack.com/images/solstice-button-rth.jpg" alt="Birds of the Solstice" title="Birds of the Solstice, a Birdstack community project" /></a>

Good birding!

Birds of the Equinox is a project to document birdlife around the world during the September equinox, which is next Tuesday — 22 September at 9:19 p.m. UTC (that’s 10:19 p.m. in London and 2:19 p.m. in Vancouver). We want to hear from you, wherever you are that day! Here’s how.

Depending on your cultural outlook, equinox marks either the beginning or the midpoint of a season. Depending on your hemisphere, that season is either autumn or spring.

It’s an excellent time to stop and reflect on the birds around you. What’s changing? Are birds returning or passing through? Are they departing? Are they singing or molting?

At some point within 12 hours either side of the equinox, go birding — even if it’s just by looking out your window for 10 minutes. Record your observations in a trip on Birdstack. Take pictures. Blog your thoughts. Here are more ideas, an official timetable for participation, and the rules. (And for further inspiration, check out Birds of the Equinox: March 2009).

There are Birdstackers on six continents, and we’d love to have participation from Tasmania to Finland and from Capetown to Gujarat. Entries are due by 28 September, and by 2 October, we’ll post a compilation of your observations, pictures, and thoughts.

If you would like to promote Birds of the Equinox on your blog, you can copy and paste either of these code snippets:

Banner (500px by 110px):
<a href="http://birdstack.com/solar-birding/september-equinox-2009""><img src="http://birdstack.com/images/equinox-banner.jpg" alt="Birds of the Equinox" title="Birds of the Equinox, a Birdstack community project" /></a>

or

Button (165px by 165px):
<a href="http://birdstack.com/solar-birding/september-equinox-2009"><img src="http://birdstack.com/images/equinox-button-rth.jpg" alt="Birds of the Equinox" title="Birds of the Equinox, a Birdstack community project" /></a>

You can also RSVP/promote Birds of the Equinox on Facebook.

Good birding!