Featured
FeederWatchers:
Mimi and Ellis Myers
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Mimi Myers first became interested in birds 1956 while at home with a new baby. A Wrentit frequently foraged under an azalea just outside their bedroom window. Curious about the identity of the bird, Mimi asked her sister. Shortly after, Mimi's mother gave her a Peterson's guide, and she and Ellis began feeding birds.
In 1990 Mimi and Ellis retired after running a scientific illustration business. Prior to the family business, Ellis worked for the University of California as a chemist and illustrator. |
| The Myers always have a large number of California Quail (pictured above). Ellis wrote, "Once, when two coveys convened for dinner at the same time, we reported 62 individuals. The FeederWatch computer didn’t believe us, and we had to confirm that the number was an actual count." Photo by Ellis Myers. |
 FeederWatch Count Site
For Mimi and Ellis, FeederWatching is a joint effort. They have lived in the same location in Moraga, California, since 1973. The yard has native Valley Oaks and Live Oaks, and the Myers planted redwoods and alders that are now mature. The yard is registered with the National Wildlife Federation as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. |
The Myers have two hummingbird/oriole feeders, two sunflower chip feeders, a peanut feeder, and a hanging saucer for peanut butter. They mix peanut butter with flour so that it crumbles, preventing jays from taking more than their share at one time. They spread corn and millet along an extended strip on the ground to make it easier to count large numbers of sparrows and towhees. They also have a large bird bath with bubbling water. |
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| Wild Turkeys visit the Myers' bird bath, which has moving water making it more attractive to birds. |
| Lab researchers tested their House Finches |
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The Myers have hosted a large group of House Finches over the years and sent their counts to Project FeederWatch. Consequently, when researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology were looking for a location to find a western population of House Finches, they contacted the Myers. In 2004 researchers came to the Myers yard to capture House Finches and take blood samples. The Myers wrote of the experience, "We welcomed the researchers for a day in the backyard and were surprised that they were able to capture 42 individuals for sampling, where we might have expected 15 or so." You can learn more about the research in the March 2006 issue of the Quail (pdf, scroll down to page 4), the Mount Diablo Audubon Society's newsletter, which Ellis edits. One of the researchers, Mari Kimura, also has information about the research on her web page. |
| Dana Hawley and Mari Kimura, researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, trap House Finches in the Myers' yard. Photo by Ellis Myers. |
Rare birds
In addition to common birds, the Myers have hosted some rare birds over the years. In 1975 a Ring-necked Pheasant visited for two weeks; their millet attracted a Lark Sparrow in 1997; and the sunflower chips feeders hosted a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in March, 2000, and a Cassin’s Finch in June, 2002.
One last thought
When asked if they had any parting words for their fellow FeederWatch participants, the Myers wrote, "Learn to love the squirrels, who will outwit you whatever you do, and the brush rabbits, who will eat your lawn instead of the grain." |
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