Sightings / bonus points

Sightings

This aspect of the lab is designed to encourage students to become aware of the local avifauna outside of scheduled lab time. We want you to look for birds on your own. As an incentive, you can earn bonus points for additions to this list of bird sightings.

Rules for receiving bonus points

A point will be awarded to the first person(s) who submits a sighting of a new, free ranging, nondomestic, native or naturalized species outside of lab time (hearing a new species also counts). All submissions for a new species received before the sighting is posted will recieve credit. Students are allowed only one submission per day, and the submission must be made within 24 hours of the observation. If your sighting is a "rare" species or a species not normally seen at that time of year, you must also submit a photograph or have your sighting confirmed by a second independent observer. Each student can earn a maximum of two points per week (weeks restart on Monday) for sightings.

In addition, three points will be awarded to the first person to find the first active nest for each species (identified by eggs, chicks, prolonged incubation on nest, or by observing adults bringing food to nest).

A maximum of 25 points total can be accumulated for Sightings and Question of the Week answers for each student.

Sighting Form

Use the form below to submit sightings.

Your Name: Species: Location: Date: Sighting or Nest: Comments:
   

Species List

  Species Location Date Sighting or nest Comments Observer(s)
1 European Starling Cup a Joe 1/06 sighting What a voice Ted Simons
2 Dark-eyed Junco The U Raleigh 1/07 sighting   Amber Bledsoe
3 Northern Cardinal (male) My bird feeder 1/08 sighting Very hungry bird! Madi McDiarmid
4 Horned Grebe Harris Lake 1/08 sighting   Lucas Bobay
5 Northern Mockingbird Court of Carolina 1/08 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
6 Mourning Dove My bird feeder 1/08 sighting Many doves grouped together Lanette Phillips
7 Red-tailed Hawk Ouside West Deck 1/08 sighting   Sarah DeNoble
8 Blue Jay ES King Village 1/09 sighting   Ana Rivera
9 American Crow outside my apartment 1/09 sighting 3 of them seen from my bedroom window Jens Kosch
10 Eastern Bluebird Outside my Townhouse 1/09 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
11 Eastern Tufted Titmouse My bird feeder 1/09 sighting Such cute birds Madi McDiarmid
12 Muscovy Duck Lake Lynn 1/09 sighting   Khai Button
13 Great Blue Heron Lake Johnson 1/09 sighting   Amber Bledsoe
14 American Robin Talley 1/10 sighting   Michelina Aita
15 Red-headed Woodpecker My bird feeder 1/10 sighting   Lanette Philips
16 Canada Goose Vet School Campus 1/11 sighting   Megan King
17 Red-bellied Woodpecker In a tree between Alexander Hall and Turlington Hall 1/11 sighting Beautiful bird! The red patch on its head caught my eye! Frankie Fann
18 Downy Woodpecker A tree outside my apartment 1/11 sighting Busy looking for insects Madi McDiarmid
19 Carolina Chickadee Court of Carolina 1/11 sighting   Michelina Aita
20 American Goldfinch The U Raleigh 1/11 sighting   Amber Bledsoe
21 Carolina Wren My bird feeder 1/12 sighting   Lanette Phillips
22 Song Sparrow Talley 1/13 sighting   Michelina Aita
23 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker tree outside my house 1/13 sighting   Megan King
24 Hooded Merganser Lake Crabtree 1/13 sighting   Lucas Bobay
25 Chipping Sparrow Downstairs neighbor's bushes 1/14 sighting Hopping around on the ground looking for food Madi McDiarmid
26 Red-shouldered Hawk Mom's house on the playset 1/15 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
27 Bald Eagle Lake Raleigh 1/15 sighting Perched in a tree overlooking the lake Lanette Phillips
28 Turkey Vulture My house 1/18 sighting Gliding overhead Megan King
29 Northern Shoveler Lake Crabtree 1/18 sighting   Lucas Bobay
30 Cooper's Hawk Flying over 440-West 1/19 sighting   Frankie Fann
31 White-breasted Nuthatch Campus, Nelson Hall 1/20 sighting   Kristen Lewey
32 Eastern Towhee My bird feeder 1/20 sighting   Madi McDiarmid
33 House Finch My bird feeder 1/20 sighting   Megan King
34 Lesser Scaup Lake Crabtree 1/20 sighting   Lucas Bobay
35 House Wren NCSU campus 1/21 sighting calling loudly on someone's car Kathryn Nilsson
36 White-throated Sparrow Rocky Branch Trail 1/23 sighting 9 or 10 grouped together Ana Rivera
37 Brown Thrasher Front Yard 1/24 sighting   Colleen Grant
38 Ring-billed Gull Belk parking lot in Smithfield, NC 1/24 sighting Dozens being fed by a man in a jeep Lanette Phillips
39 Pine Warbler Outside my townhouse 1/25 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
40 American Pipit Lake Crabtree 1/27 sighting   Lucas Bobay
41 Yellow-rumped Warbler In a tree walking towards DH Hill 1/29 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
42 Pileated Woodpecker Sanford, NC 1/30 sighting It was flying over a road and a horse pasture April Boggs
43 Brown-headed Nuthatch My house 1/31 sighting   Emily Bruff
44 Mountain Plover South Core Banks, NC 1/31 sighting First state record, first found earlier this week. More: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S27227869 Lucas Bobay
45 Killdeer NCSU Equine Unit 2/1 sighting It looked like several may have been startled by a hawk April Boggs
46 Eastern Bluebird In a tree hole where I walk my dogs 2/1 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
47 Nashville Warbler Lake Crabtree 2/3 sighting Found this bird a few weeks ago, saw it again today. Very rare in winter Lucas Bobay
48 Eastern Screech Owl Campus Edge 2/3 sighting Hooting in the trees behind my apartment (it woke me up) Madi McDiarmid
49 Black Vulture Field off of Hwy 42 near Sheetz 2/5 sighting   Lanette Phillips
50 Northern Flicker neighbor's yard 2/6 sighting   Lanette Phillips
51 Ruby-crowned Kinglet Lake Johnson 2/6 sighting It was so tiny! It was much easier to see the ruby color on its head because it stayed in a tree within 10ft of myself and a friend and almost hovered at times April Boggs
52 Hairy Woodpecker Conifer tree behind my apartment 2/9 sighting   Ana Rivera
53 Purple Finch my bird feeder 2/11 sighting At first I thought it was a house finch, but his head, breast, and back have such vibrant red/magenta with darker wings! Very pretty Madi McDiarmid
54 Great Horned Owl East Raleigh 2/11 sighting Heard calling. Very deep. Kathryn Nilsson
55 Redhead Lake Crabtree 2/14 sighting   Lucas Bobay
56 House Sparrow Inside Lowes 2/14 sighting Eating out of a birdseed bag Megan King
57 Hermit Thrush My backyard 2/15 sighting   Megan King
58 Common Grackle My parent's yard (Pittsboro, NC) 2/18 sighting I love their purple/black coloration Madi McDiarmid
59 Brown Creeper My backyard 2/18 sighting moving up a pine tree Megan King
60 Northern Fulmar Offshore Cape Hatteras 2/20 sighting Seen on a pelagic trip Lucas Bobay
61 Cedar Waxwing Between Lee Hall, Bragaw, and Fountain Dining Hall 2/22 sighting They were grouped in an oak tree over the amphitheater Madi McDiarmid
62 Eurasian Wigeon Lake Mattamuskeet NWR 2/21 sighting Male seen in the refuge impoundment Lucas Bobay
63 American Kestrel Sitting on a powerline 2/23 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
64 Herring Gull Research Triangle 2/23 sighting Why aren't you at the beach Frankie Fann
65 Mallard Ditch/pond located in Gorman and Ligon Street Intersection 2/24 sighting There's always a couple, sometimes accompanied by some Canada Geese. Ana Rivera
65 Fish Crow Schenk Forest 2/28 sighting Flew overhead while getting point count data Madi McDiarmid
66 Belted Kingfisher Lake Johnson 2/28 sighting perched near the lake Kathryn Nilsson
67 Greater Scaup Lake Crabtree 2/28 sighting   Lucas Bobay
68 Winter Wren Camden Crossing 3/1 sighting   Frankie Fann
69 Burrowing Owl Wrightsville Beach 3/2 sighting Continuing 3rd state record at Masonboro Inlet Lucas Bobay
70 Great Egret Bodie Lighthouse 3/5 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
71 Banaquit My backyard in Mayaquez, Puerto Rico 3/5 sighting   Ana Rivera
72 Rock Pigeon Two flying under a bridge on 70 near Vandora Springs exit. 3/5 sighting   Lanette Phillips
73 Lesser Antillean Pewee (Puerto Rican Pewee) My farm in Las Marias, Puerto Rico 3/6 sighting   Ana Rivera
74 Lesser Scaup Pea Island 3/6 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
75 Fox Sparrow Nature Conservancy 3/7 sighting   Kathryn Nilsson
76 Pearly-eyed Thrasher My backyard in Mayaguez, PR. 3/7 sighting Perched on the branches of a golden trumpet tree. Ana Rivera
77 Black Hawk-eagle Finca Esperanza Verde 3/6 sighting   Lucas Bobay
78 Scaled Antpitta Finca Esperanza Verde 3/7 sighting   Lucas Bobay
79 Double-crested Cormorant Lake Raleigh 3/8 sighting A whole tree of them! Madi McDiarmid
80 Wild Turkey Pierson, Florida 3/8 sighting Subspecies--oceola. Grop of five in an open field Megan King
81 Monk Parakeet Miami Florida 3/11 sighting Group of 4 in a tree Megan King
82 Barred Owl Lafayette Indiana 3/11 sighting Flying overhead Kathryn Nilsson
83 Eastern Phoebe Sanford, NC 3/12 sighting I heard it first and then it flew past me April Boggs
84 Common Raven Pilot Mountain State Park 3/12 sighting   Lanette Phillips
85 Osprey Jordan Lake, Near 64E 3/12 sighting A park ranger pointed out that the Ospreys were nesting nearby, and I saw one in the nest Madi McDiarmid
86 Whip-poor-will Westfield, NC 3/13 sighting Heard the call Lanette Phillips
87 Sandhill Crane Pierson, Florida 3/14 sighting   Megan King
88 Chimney Swift Campus Edge 3/16 sighting Flying overhead! They're so cute (but super loud!!). Madi McDiarmid
89 Brown-headed Cowbird Outsdied my townhouse 3/19 sighting Calling at the very top of a tree Kathryn Nilsson
90 Red-winged Blackbird Richmond, Kentucky 3/19 sighting Calling overhead (Dr. Moorman was 'talking' to it) Madi McDiarmid
91 Brown Pelican Wrightsville Beach 3/20 sighting   Frankie Fann
92 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Rocky Branch Greenway 3/23 sighting   Lucas Bobay
93 Northern Parula Horseshoe Farm Park 3/25 sighting singing Lucas Bobay
94 Northern Cardinal Cary, NC 3/28 nest The female has been incubating for about 4 days. There are at least two eggs. Megan King
95 American Robin In front of Kilgore, NE corner 3/28 nest Female sitting on nest for prolonged period Colleen Grant
96 House Finch Campus Edge 3/29 nest I've been watching them build the nest in my eaves for a few weeks. Today I saw the female sitting there for a long time (I think there are eggs now). Madi McDiarmid
97 Eastern Bluebird Cary, NC 3/30 nest 3 eggs in the nest box Megan King
98 Prairie Warbler Sullivan Dr.- Near Reedy Creek and West Deck 3/30 sighting It sounds like a wheezy helicopter! (Super cute!) Madi McDiarmid
99 Brown-headed Nuthatch Outside my townhouse 3/31 nest pair nesting in hole in dead portion of a tree Kathryn Nilsson
100 Canada Goose Plantation Center 4/3 nest Sitting very still in a bed of leaves with male near by Kathryn Nilsson
101 White-eyed Vireo Gorman St. 4/4 sighting Saw it in the bushes while walking home Kathryn Nilsson
102 Ovenbird Lake Benson 4/6 sighting Heard singing, teacher, teacher, teacher! Lucas Bobay
103 Ruffed Grouse Pisgah National Forest 4/7 sighting It flew across the road and into the shadows at the edge of the forest and road, but we were able to see it standing off to the side before it ran away. April Boggs
104 House Sparrow Mebane outlet mall 4/10 nest Can hear chicks begging Kathryn Nilsson
105 Caspian Tern Lake Crabtree 4/10 sighting   Lucas Bobay
106 Song Sparrow Panera Bread in Durham 4/10 nest One bird kept bringing more nest material while the other sat in the nest! Frankie Fann
107 Carolina Chickadee Sanford, NC 4/10 nest There were several nestlings and one egg in a nest box I placed at Greenwood Elementary School last year. It is the second time a chickadee has used it. I scared one of the parents off the nest and it scolded me from close by. April Boggs
108 Northern Mockingbird Cary, NC 4/12 nest The nest is about 10ft high in a tree. I probably wouldn't have seen it if the adult didn't fly back to it as I walked by. Megan King
109 Mourning Dove Outside coffee shop Nelson Hall 4/14 nest   Lanette Phillips
110 Gray Catbird Pullen Park 4/14 sighting   Megan King
111 Eastern Towhee In bushes outside DCL 4/15 nest Nestlings had gaping mouths as mom approached and flew away Lanette Phillips
112 Pine Siskin Grandfather Mountain 4/16 sighting There were at least 20 flying around the feeders. Lina Aita
113 Least Sandpiper Lake Crabtree 4/19 sighting   Lucas Bobay
114 Carolina Wren Westfield, NC--Ashbury Road 4/19 nest Nest found in the gas tank opening of an old truck. Nestlings were in the nest! Lanette Phillips
115 Brown Thrasher Behind the vet I work at 4/19 nest a fledgling on the ground! Kathryn Nilsson
116 Worm-eating Warbler Rocky Branch Greenway 4/21 sighting Great views, eating worms in the trees by the pond. Lucas Bobay
117 House Sparrow Cary, NC 4/24 nest In the Lowe's garden section Megan King
118 Least Bittern Harris Lake Marshes 4/23 sighting Very rare in central NC, have recording. Awesome to hear! Lucas Bobay
119 Ruby-throated Hummingbird Cary, NC 4/26 sighting drinking from a feeder Megan King
120 Great Crested Flycatcher Near Daniels Hall 4/28 sighting Heard it nearby April Boggs
122 Little Egret Lake Mattamuskeet 4/29 sighting Shocked after finding this bird, the first state record! Native of Europe and Africa. http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S29290401 Lucas Bobay
123 Yellow-billed Cuckoo Arapahoe, NC 4/30 sighting My dad and I were exploring the campsite and I saw a bird we had never seen out before. Noticed a white belly, and black and white patches on the tail. Mary Osborn