The Challenge Factory discussion

Backyard Birding Challenge
Duration July 1 - December 31, 2023

Bird Set 1:

1. American Robin - Male and female Robins are very similar in appearance. Though known for being worm eaters, robins have varied diets. American Robins mostly eat fruits in the fall and winter, and include more insects and worms in their spring and summer diets. You can occasionally spot tipsy robins in the late winter and early spring, thanks to fermented berries they have devoured.
a. Read a book with twins in it.
b. Read a book with a tipsy character.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and R (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters ROBIN in it.

2. Downy Woodpecker - These are the smallest North American woodpeckers. The male has a distinctive red spot on the back of the head. Their diet is largely insects, but you will also see them at suet feeders in your backyard.
a. Read a book with a red spot on the cover.
b. Read a book that mentions a something made with down - a comforter, pillow, jacket, etc.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of D and W (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters DOWNY in it.

3. American Goldfinch – This is the only finch that molts twice a year. In summer, males are a vivid yellow with a black cap and black wings. Females are a duller yellow and lack the black cap. They often feed on small-seeded plants like thistles.
a. Read a book whose cover has bright yellow and black on it.
b. Read a book where a character changes clothes more than once.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and G (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters FINCH in it.

4. House Sparrow – This bird did not exist in North America until 1851, when it was imported from Europe to combat a linden moth caterpillar infestation in New York City. It can now be found on every continent except Antarctica and is considered to be a pest species. It is not related to any other American sparrow species.
a. Read a book about a migrant or migrants.
b. Read a book with a MC who is a pest (your interpretation).
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of H and S (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters SPARROW in it.

5. American Crow –These birds are incredibly clever, with the largest brain-to-body ratio of any bird. They not only use tools but also make them. They hold funerals for their dead. They can solve a metatool problem where each step was out of sight of the others, planning ahead three behaviors into the future. Populations of crows have different dialects, which a new crow will learn if it joins the flock.
a. Read a book where the MC is very good at solving problems.
b. Read a book where the MC learns a language other than their native one.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of A and C (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters CROW in it.

Completion Post - Set 1, 1/5

Bird: Downy Woodpecker
Task: c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of D and W (in either order).
Book and Author: City of Stone and Silence by Django Wexler
Date: 07 Jul 2023
Rating: ****
How it Fits: Author's initials are DW

Completion Post - Set 1, 2/5

Bird: American Robin
Task: a. Read a book with twins in it.
Book and Author: Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce
Date: 10 Jul 2023
Rating: ****
How it Fits: MC has a twin brother

Completion Post - Set 1, 3/5

Bird: American Goldfinch
Task: d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters FINCH in it.
Book and Author: The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman
Date: 21 Jul 2023
Rating: **
How it Fits: The Infinity Courts

Completion Post - Set 1, 4/5

Bird: American Crow
Task: d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters CROW in it.
Book and Author: The Crown's Game by Evelyn Skye
Date: 16 Aug 2023
Rating: ****
How it Fits: The Crown's Game

Completion Post - Set 1, 5/5

Bird: House Sparrow
Task: c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of H and S (in either order).
Book and Author: Been Here All Along by Sandy Hall
Date: 26 Aug 2023
Rating: **
How it Fits: Author's initials are SH

Here are your badges for Bird Set 1!

Bird Set 2:

6. Black Capped Chickadee - This bird's black cap and bib make it easy to identify. It has a habit of investigating humans and everything around its home territory. Chickadees usually hide seeds and other food items to eat later. They choose different spots to place each item. A Chickadee can remember thousands of food hiding places.
a. Read a story where the MC investigates something.
b. Read a story where a character hides things.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of B and C (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters BLACK in it.

7. House Finch - Once limited to the Western United States and Mexico, House Finches are now found from coast to coast, and as far north as southern Canada. In 1939 a few of the birds, originally captured in Santa Barbara, California, were set free on New York’s Long Island by a pet store owner. Although House Finches are well adapted to dry climates, they still need a lot of water. On especially hot days, they can consume more than their own bodyweight in fluids.
a. Read a book set in the western United States or Mexico.
b. Read a book where the MC drinks a lot of water.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of H and F (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters HOUSE in it.

8. Yellow-Rumped Warbler - This is one of the most abundant birds in all of North America, and by far the most common of the 50 varieties of warbler. They are one of the first signs that spring migration is ramping up. If you see one Yellow-rumped Warbler, chances are good you'll see others. During spring and fall migration, these birds often forage in groups.
a. Read a book where the MC has an abundance of something (could be physical or nonphysical like an emotion)
b. Read a book where the MC goes out with a group of friends to eat.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of Y and W (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters WARBLER in it.

9. White Breasted Nuthatch - White-breasted nuthatches have short tails, white undersides and are bluish gray on top with a dark cap. Whenever you see a bird going headfirst down a tree trunk, it’s probably a nuthatch. They are a nonmigratory bird and form long-term bonds.
a. Read a book where the MC spends time upside down (think yoga, gymnastics, aerobatic flying, amusement park rides, etc.)
b. Read a book where the MC has a long-term relationship.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of W and N (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters WHITE in it.

10. Wood Thrush - These birds do not come to feeders but frequent backyards that are near wooded areas. Unlike many songbirds, males do not practice "song matching" but instead will respond to a rival's song with a different song of their own. These birds are prone to nest parasitism by Brown Headed Cowbirds, but accept the foreign eggs and raise them as their own.
a. Read a book where the MC loves to sing.
b. Read a book where the MC adopts a child.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of W and T (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters THRUSH in it.

Completion Post - Set 2, 1/5

Bird: White Breasted Nuthatch
Task: d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters WHITE in it.
Book and Author: White Rose, Black Forest by Eoin Dempsey
Date: 15 Sep 2023
Rating: ***
How it Fits: White Rose, Black Forest

Completion Post - Set 2, 2/5

Bird: Black Capped Chickadee
Task: a. Read a story where the MC investigates something.
Book and Author: The Traitor by Ava Glass
Date: 15 Sep 2023
Rating: ****
How it Fits: MC investigates (among other things) the identity of a traitor within the British government

Completion Post - Set 2, 3/5

Bird: Wood Thrush
Task: c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of W and T (in either order).
Book and Author: Chasing the Dead by Tim Weaver
Date: 17 Sep 2023
Rating: **
How it Fits: Author's initials are TW

Completion Post - Set 2, 4/5

Bird: Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Task: d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters WARBLER in it.
Book and Author: Reflections on the Way to the Gallows: Rebel Women in Prewar Japan by Mikiso Hane
Date: 17 Sep 2023
Rating: ****
How it Fits: Reflections on the Way to the Gallows: Rebel Women in Prewar Japan

Completion Post - Set 2, 5/5

Bird: House Finch
Task: d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters HOUSE in it.
Book and Author: Breath and Bone by Carol Berg
Date: 06 Dec 2023
Rating: ***
How it Fits: Series: Lighthouse

Here are your badges for Bird Set 2!

Bird Set 3:

11. Brown Headed Cowbird - This is a sturdy blackbird with an unusual approach to parenthood. Females do not build nests but use all their energy for producing eggs, sometimes over three dozen per summer. They lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, who become their chicks’ foster parents, with usually at least some of their foster parents’ chicks being victims in the process. Heavy parasitism by this species has pushed some birds to be "endangered" and has affected other populations as well.
a. Read a book where the MC gives up a child for adoption.
b. Read a book whose cover is more than 50% brown and black.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of B and H (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters BROWN in it.

12. House Wren - This is a very small, plain brown bird with a loud and insistent voice. Wrens will harass and peck at much larger birds, sometimes dragging eggs and young out of a nest site they want. House wrens are very famous for their rich bubbly song which is commonly heard during the nesting season.
a. Read a book with a MC who has a very loud and insistent voice or who is otherwise very aggressive.
b. Read a book with a character who has a rich, bubbly personality (your interpretation).
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of H and W (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters WREN in it.

13. Northern Cardinal - The female Northern Cardinal is one of the few female North American songbirds who sing. The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males - if it sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it will frequently spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder. The Northern Cardinal is the state bird of seven states.
a. Read a book with a female character who sings.
b. Read a book where a male character fights to defend his or her territory (could be a love interest, a work project, a sporting title, etc.)
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of N and C (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters NORTHERN in it.

14. Golden Crowned Kinglet - These tiny birds are barely larger than a hummingbird but can survive to 40 degrees below zero. Their nest is a well-concealed hanging cup suspended from a conifer branch. Males defend their nesting territory by singing.
a. Read a book where the MC survives temperatures below zero.
b. Read a book where the some of the action takes place in a pinewood forest.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of G and K (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters KINGLET in it.

15. Blue Jay - Both male and female Blue Jays appear to be a brilliant, lavender-blue with a dazzling pattern on the wing bars - but it is a trick of the light that makes the blue color visible. Their feathers are actually brown. Blue Jays fly very slowly compared to other birds by keeping their body and tail at the same level - a feature quite peculiar to the Jay. They particularly love to eat acorns.
a. Read a book where the MC does/doesn't see or do something because of a trick of the lighting.
b. Read a book where a character flies a slow plane - like an old biplane or a smaller recreational plane.
c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of B and J (in either order).
d. Read a book whose title or series name has all of the letters JAY in it.

Completion Post - Set 3, 1/5

Bird: Blue Jay
Task: c. Read a book by an author with first and last initials of B and J (in either order).
Book and Author: The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
Date: 09 Dec 2023
Rating: *****
How it Fits: Author's initials are J.B.