JANUARY/FEBRUARY ROOT - PROGRESS THREAD

Let's start 2026 with a bang!

This year's theme is BIRDS

Winter birds are species that stay in colder regions during winter, often identified by bright colors against snow (like Cardinals, Blue Jays, Goldfinches, Chickadees) or unique winter visitors like "snowbirds" (Dark-eyed Juncos) and finches (Purple Finches, Pine Siskins), providing great birdwatching opportunities with feeders and natural habitats.

Common Backyard Winter Birds

Northern Cardinal: Bright red male, brown female, common feeder visitor.

Black-capped Chickadee/Tufted Titmouse: Small, active, often found with nuthatches.
American Goldfinch: Yellow during summer, but winter males are duller; they love thistle.

European Goldfinch - combine a brilliant red, white, and black head with earthy brown tones and a bold yellow patch on jet-black wings.

Dark-eyed Junco: "Snowbirds" that appear in large flocks, eating seeds.

Blue Jay: Bold blue, white, and black with a crest.

White-breasted Nuthatch: Climbs down trees headfirst.

Purple Finch: Males have a raspberry-red wash.
Cedar Waxwing: Sleek, crested birds often in berry bushes.

Evening Grosbeak: Large finches with distinctive yellow and black markings.


I couldn't choose just one bird so I gave us a birdwatching lesson.
Has anyone seen any of these birds in their area?

Here are the members and their goals so far.
Remember if your name doesn't appear, check to make sure you are a member.

AbigailAdams26 100
Ameise1 10
AnishaInkspill 65
atozgrl 30
benitastarnd 75
Bookbrained 60
bookworm3091 18
Caramellunacy 24
Carmenere 30
Cecilturtle 70
Coach_of_Alva 25
connie53 40
crazy4reading 30
cyderry 72
deep220 50
detailmuse 40
DisassemblyOfReason 75
Familyhistorian 65
floremolla 30
HelenBaker 48
Henrik_Madsen 50
Jackie_K 48
jbizz79 10
kac522 75
Kyler_Marie 40
LadyBookworth 24
LisaMorr 52
madhatter22 45
martencat 18
missizicks 45
MissWatson 75
msliz 20
Nonconformisto 20
Peoney25 30
QuestingA 50
rabbitprincess 60
ritacate 20
Robertgreaves 72
rocketjk 25
sallylou61 24
si 25
TonjaE 24
torontoc 30
trav 20
wandaly 26
zuzaer 6

>1 cyderry:
I spotted a male cardinal a couple of days ago and I am sure it was a female cardinal that was also flying around the deck.

>Climbs down trees headfirst. Interesting!
Thank you, Chèli. Beautiful creatures, they bring such a lift.

Since 2025 was a rather poor reading year for me, I decided to keep 75 books as my ROOTing goal for 2026. I hope I can reach that goal and perhaps do better this year.

I just posted my ROOT thread. Here is the link: https://www.librarything.com/topic/377288#n9059391

You can watch my ambitious 2026 reading project and help hold my feet to the fire to get it accomplished.

Hi , long time LibraryThing user but I was not active much the last few years. I'd like to be more active this year.
My goal is reading 75 books from my shelves then to de-clutter by donating them to little free libraries.

I need to refresh my memory about posting pics and having a progress thread.

With regards to birds, we usually only see the Northern Flicker this time of year pecking bark on the huge pine tree in the back along with Downy Woodpeckers. We don't see many Towhees other times of the year but in winter we do and some Chickadees and Juncos along with the regulars of Doves, House Finches, Sparrows and such.

>6 kaida46: There are always people that are willing to help, Deb, just ask.

@ Chéli: maybe you can pin this thread so it stays on top?

>1 cyderry: I love this so much, Chéli! Thank you for the theme!

So far this winter, I've seen the Evening Grosbeak, the Cedar Waxwing, the American Goldfinch, the Purple Finch, the Cardinal, the Blue Jay, the Dark-eyed Junco and - my spark bird - the White-breasted Nuthatch (can you tell I'm a birder?). Today, I spotted a flock of Bohemian Waxwings. I'll post a photo when I get my thread set up.

Happy and healthy 2026, Everyone!

I am back for another year of ROOTing. My first year here, I overestimated how many ROOTs I could finish and undershot my goal, so I have been more conservative in setting a goal the last two years. However, I have been able to surpass 25 two years running, so I am setting my goal at 30 ROOTs this year. I hope I can still read more ROOTs than that.

>1 cyderry: We see a lot of the birds you mentioned: Cardinals, Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Chickadees. Most of these birds visit our yard all year round, except the Juncos. We've never seen a Cedar Waxwing in our yard, but a friend of ours who lives in a different part of town gets them.

I hope to get my ROOTs thread set up soon, but I have added my ticker.

Thank you for all your hard work over the years, Chèli. I hope 2026 is kinder to you healthwise than 2025.

I am back for another year and really trying to read more books from my book towers that have been there for 6 months or more.
Goal this year- 30 books

A Happy New Year to all ROOTers! I am setting a goal of 75 this year, just added my ticker.

Thank you Cheli for facilitating another year of this lovely group. And what gorgeous photos! Our garden birds this side of the Pond are mostly LBJs (aka Little Brown Jobs) - I'd be over the moon to see something as colourful as a cardinal on my feeders!

My goal for this year is the same as last year, 48, so 4 a month. My secondary goal is to hit 52 (1 per week), but I'll keep the goal on my ticker as 48. I managed 52 in 2025.

I never saw any of those birds over here in Europe.

Reporting ROOT # 1 for the year, # 1 for Januari

Door het vuur by M.J. Arlidge

Own ticker updated

Hello! I found this group and decided to join—and I think I've managed to do everything required. Happy reading!

(I own a book that I was reading during the New Year's Eve Readathon. Started in 2025, finished in 2026, in my own stats it's for the 2025. I don't think that counts here.)

Yes, you did. Member, ticker in the right thread and your own thread created.
You'r ready to ROOT.

>16 zuzaer: I count the day I finished a book. So it's up to you.

>15 connie53: Congrats, Connie!
>16 zuzaer: Welcome and happy ROOTing!

>17 connie53: Yay!
>18 connie53: I think I'll stick to how I've been operating, just to be able to keep my head with the stats.
>19 Cecilturtle: Thank you!

hi all, trying for the second year and posted my ticker, (message 31), and will keep a seperate log in case this doesn't work again.

Happy Reading!!! for 2026 📚🍵

btw, I think it's amazing that last year between us we read 2000 books - that's absolutely brilliant 👏👏

Thank you for all the incredible work you do for this challenge. The information and photos for your monthly theme updates are fantastic.

My most common visitor and favorite winter birds are the black-capped chickadees.

January reading report - 1

Jan 5, 2025 - Cold Case Christianity for Kids by Detective J. Warner Wallace

>16 zuzaer: I'm another one who counts books when I start them. Once I've started them they're off the treebook or virtual TBR shelf so they count.

>25 Robertgreaves: I'm not finally counting them until I've finished, but they do get a number that stays with them throughout the year. I still have two books started in 2025, one I only have to gather my will, another is a long, delicious read for Monday evenings and going back home, so it'll take time. But they 'belong' to 2025.

I count my books when I finish them, but I think it is OK to do it whatever way you wish. Just be consistent.

I've added my 2nd and 3rd ROOTs to my ticker.

First book of the year- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone . My review is on my thread and no tickers updated

Please be sure that the goal list is correct.

>30 cyderry: looks good for me! thanks for everything, Chèli!

>30 cyderry: Merci beaucoup ma chère, mon chiffre est correct. Merci beaucoup pour ton travail formidable.

My total is correct. Thanks, Chéli.

>30 cyderry: Mine's good, Cheli 👍

My goal is correct! Thanks so much, Chèli!

>30 cyderry:
You missed me. My goal is in post #5. It is 75 for 2026. I joined up as a member back on January 2 when I posted my ROOT thread.

Yes, my goal is correct. Thank you, once again.

My goal is also correct. Thanks for all you do, Chèli!

My goal is also correct. Thank you so much, Chèli.

Mine's correct, thanks Cheli.

I love all of the photographs of the birds! I've seen bluejays in my backyard recently, but none of the others, alas. We have had some red-tailed hawks back there recently though, which was less pretty (and not so nice for the little critters), but also thrilling.

My goal is correct.

>36 benitastrnad: fixed. Sorry.

Root #2- my second reread in the Harry Potter series. No tickers updated

>7 connie53: Thanks connie for your kind words, I studied the LT wiki and was able to post a pic on my new 2026 thread. called kaida46 returns after an absence

I love the bird theme! Here is a pic of the stunning Northern Flicker

>45 kaida46: Gorgeous!

>1 cyderry: Beautiful! We have very different birds in Australia. Hi! I'm new to the group.
I think I have set up correctly, and am looking forward to joining in.

I'm sure I can find a book about or featuring a bird here somewhere, maybe one with a bird on the cover? In the mean time, here is a photo of a pair of Pink & Grey Galahs from Western Australia.

>47 TonjaE: Welcome!

ROOT #3 as I am rereading the Harry Potter series. No tickers updated

>49 torontoc: it's interesting how you're doing it, I count my rereads as it will be a different.

Reporting ROOT # 02 for the year, # 02 for Januari

The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix

Own ticker updated

Completed ROOT #4 today and updated my ticker:

The Mummy, or Ramses the Damned by Anne Rice

Root#4 the fourth Harry Potter book! Review is on my thread and no tickers updated

My ROOTing is coming along nicely, 6 ROOTs finished so far.

I've just added ROOT #4 to my own ticker only.

I've read three ROOTs so far and will update my own ticker soon.

#31 - have updated, 5 so far, books listed on my root page

I have joined the group and have finished 3 roots so far this year. I have updated my tracker.

I've just joined and discovered that my first read of the year was theme appropriate by accident - The Goldfinch!

I've joined, set up my ticker and personal thread, and added my ticker to the communal ticker thread.

It's been a while since I was part of a group challenge and can't remember what happens when I update my ticker. Will it automatically update here without me doing anything?

Love the bird theme! We were gifted one of those camera bird feeders over the holidays. I was not a believer, in the beginning, but am a huge bird-watching convert now. Who knew all the return customers we'd have and how many of the birds seem to always visit in pairs.

>59 missizicks: Your ticker will change everywhere you use it, in your own thread and in the ticker thread.

>61 connie53: Thanks, Connie!

>60 trav: Adorbs! I'm a late convert too :)

A quick question: ebooks do count as "off my shelf", don't they?

>64 zuzaer: We pretty much all have our own rules. I mainly read ebooks, so they definitely count for me! I count audiobooks as well :)

>65 Jackie_K: Great, thanks!

Reporting ROOT # 03 for the year, # 03 for Januari

Toen kwam Tjeerd - Sanne van Havelte

Own ticker updated

I've added my 5th ROOT to my own ticker only.

Reporting ROOT # 04 for the year, # 04 for Januari

We moeten je iets vertellen - Marlies Slegers

Own ticker updated

I have updated the list of the goals people have set as well as the group ticker.
We are doing well on the monthly goal of 158!
Please remember if you are not a member of the group your name will not appear in the listing.

I have finished 12 ROOTs so far, my own ticker is up-to-date.

>70 cyderry: Thanks for doing all you do!

ETA - finished my fifth ROOT of the year - my ticker is updated.

My first ROOT for the year done. The ticker is updated, the thread will be in a moment (I'll probably rant a little bit.)

#31 - have updated, 7 roots so far, books listed on my root page

I have finished ROOT #13, and that is going to be my final tally. I am now reading a fat library book and will start my next ROOT in February.

I finished ROOT #6 yesterday, and started a 500+ page book, so that'll be it for me in January.

I finished 3 ROOTs this month. I'm currently reading a fourth, but I don't think I'll be able to finish it until February. ROOTs finished are:

The Mark of Zorro by Johnston McCulley
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
What an owl knows : the new science of the world's most enigmatic birds by Jennifer Ackerman

Here is my report for January 2026:

UpROOTED books: 10 ROOTs
ROOTless books: 9
Added to the treebook TBR shelves: 3

The ROOTs were:

Carnival of Lies by D. V. Bishop
The Orange Lilies by Nathan Dylan Goodwin
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling
The Battle of the Labyrinth and
The Last Olympian both by Rick Riordan
Ordeal by Innocence and
Cat Among the Pigeons both by Agatha Christie
Ethics: A Very Short Introduction by Simon Blackburn
Death and the Brewery Queen by Frances Brody
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

ROOTs in YTD: 10 (53% of books this year have been ROOTs)

Personal ticker updated

I'm enjoying seeing everyone else's progress.

I just finished my 8th ROOT which was my 9th book so far this year. I can't remember the last time I managed 9 books in a month. Blessings on the public transport system in Greater Manchester for the extra reading time!

Off to update my personal thread now.

I'm closing January with 6 ROOTs, including two ancient ones, which feels pretty good.
I'm lining up all my too many activities for February (I believe in celebrating birthdays over a whole month and since I'm a Pisces for most of March too - haha) but I hope to find time to read too. Work has become very secondary.

Bird report: according to my neighbors on Facebook, this Cooper's Hawk has decided my block is a cool place to hang out:

I've added my 6th ROOT to my own ticker. That will be my last for January.

>52 LisaMorr: How fabulous!

My ROOT report for January. No tickers updated.

5 books total

Nonfiction: Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: A Jewish Family's Exodus From Old Cairo to the New World by Lucette Lagnado
Fiction: Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Target: Tinos by Jeffrey Siger
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
Recorded Books: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

There were 2 outstanding books in my January reading (All the Colors of the Dark and American Dirt) and one fun book Bookshop and Bonedust by Travis Baldree. One of these books was quite lengthy. That was All the Colors of the Dark. Even at that length it was a very good book.

>81 kac522: Splendid! I saw one yesterday at a local park but didn't get anywhere as nice a photo.

Reporting ROOT # 05 for the year, # 01 for februari

Het kind in de golven - Michel Bussi

Own ticker updated

>84 Cecilturtle: I should explain it's not my photo--posted by a neighbor on our neighborhood Facebook page. But it is very cool. It's a relatively nice day today--I may take a walk around the block to see if I can spot this guy myself.

I managed to finish 4 ROOTs in January and a total of 18 books overall. Maybe I should take more of those reads from my own shelves.

>87 Familyhistorian: I only finished 3 Roots in January, mostly due to my huge pile of books from the library. Still have a lot of library books to finish (and several more on Hold), so it may take some time for my Roots to catch up.

ROOT# 5 for the year and the first for Feb. The review is on my thread and no tickers updated.

ROOT #7 complete - The Redbreast; my ticker is updated.

ROOT#6 read and the second one in Feb. The review is on my thread and no tickers updated.

Reporting ROOT # 06 for the year, # 02 for februari

Somewhere Beyond the Sea - by TJ Klune

Own ticker updated

#31 updated Coriolanus by Shakespeare, in the midst of another 4, I hope to finish by the end of the month.

ROOT#7 for the year and the third one this February. the review is on my thread and no tickers updated.

ROOT #8 and the second for February finished - The Golden Ass - my ticker is updated.

🤞I seemed to be back on track with my reading. At least I hope so.

>96 cyderry: 👍

ROOT #9 and the third for Feb, a shorty - Pickups and Come-Ons; my ticker is updated. Worth a few chuckles and there was a section in the back with famous flirtations from movies, TV, music and literature that was cute.

Reporting ROOT # 07 for the year, # 03 for februari

Sterftij by S.K. Tremayne

Own ticker updated

I am having another good reading month, 10 ROOTs so far. My own ticker is updated.

ROOTs 10 and 11 completed and ticker updated.

So far this year, I've read 5 ROOTS. My ticker is updated.

Reporting ROOT # 08 for the year, # 04 for februari

Peach Pies and Alibis by Ellery Adams

Own ticker updated

I've finally added my first ROOT for February (#7 for the year to date) to my own ticker only. Hopeful I'll squeeze another one in before March arrives.

I'm very pleased with 8 ROOTs this month with a total of 14 for the year. I did read a couple of shorter books, but I found a new app, Fable, that lets me track my reading daily, and I do find it's a motivator to pick up my books rather than vege in front of my phone!
My ticker is updated.

>105 Cecilturtle: I did that too - and it has definitely helped! I'm using Bookmory because I saw a friend of mine who has posted her 2025 year in review using it and it looked really neat. I'll have to check out Fable too.

Hi all!
2 books read.

My total is now 2/24.

Cyderry, love the birds!

Happy reading all!

Here is my report for February 2026:

UpROOTED books: 6 ROOTs
ROOTless books: 11
Added to the treebook TBR shelves: 1

The ROOTs were:
A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller
The Rape of the Lock by Alexander Pope
The Haunted Abbot by Peter Tremayne
Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger
The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr
Buddha by Karen Armstrong

ROOTs in YTD: 16 (44% of books this year have been ROOTs)

Personal ticker updated

I have finished 13 ROOTs this month, and my count is now 26/75.

Missed one ROOT I've read in februari: ROOT # 09 for the year, # 05 for februari

Goblins and Greatcoates by Travis Baldree

Own ticker updated only

I've managed 6 books this month. I had a couple that didn't inspire me to settle into reading them, but I'm still happy with that number.

I'm at 14 ROOTs read and 15 in total for the year so far.

Tomorrow is the start of March and I will take part as usual in a blogging challenge called Reading Wales Month, in honour of Saint David/Dewi Sant. I'm excited about one of the books on my list, slightly daunted by the other. The one I'm daunted by is the ROOT of course.

I have ROOTed 5 titles from my TBR list. That makes 10 ROOT's total for the year.

The February ROOTs are:
Nonfiction
Arrogant Years: One Girl's Search for Her Lost Youth, from Cairo to Brooklyn by Lucette Lagnado - memoir

Fiction
Voyage Home by Pat Barker
Body in the Bathhouse by Lindsey Davis
Farewell, My Queen by Chantel Thomas

Recorded Book
A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel Kay

>106 LisaMorr: I like the monthly and yearly wrap-ups too in Fable! It's definitely a younger demographic, more Instagram-like, but there is a cool book club option to share reads. I've signed up on a couple - not very active - but I like the idea of it.

I've added my second ROOT for February (#8 for the year to date) to my own ticker.

#31 updated, 7 roots for Feb, my root page is Anisha's Rooting 2026

>113 Cecilturtle: How does Fable compare with Storygraph?

It was a slower reading month for me. I finished 2 ROOTs in February. If the month were a normal length month, I would have 3. And if the weather hadn't been so good today, I would have finished my final book for the month, but we needed to get some yard work done. So the next ROOT will have to wait for March.

My personal ticker has been updated.

I only managed 3 ROOTs for February for a total of 7 ROOTs for 2026. I need to get to my own books more often!

My ticker is up to date. I uprooted only one ROOT in February for a total of 6 so far this year.

TO ALL ROOTERS:

I'm working on the current numbers and have noticed that several people who have set lower goals have reached them already. To me, this is very discouraging because it doesn't seem as if this is really a "CHALLENGE" to them.

Could I possibly persuade those who are at or near their current goal to increase it for the year to something higher? After all we still have 10 months to go! Wouldn't a higher goal be a challenge which is how other members look toward setting their goals?

Not that I'm forcing you to change. I'm just thinking that showing others that you set a low goal and you don't seem to be having a problem reaching that goal quickly and easily, could discourage others from setting a challenging goal for themselves. After all it is a CHALLENGE.

Just something to think about. If you do decide to increase your goal, please let know so that I can adjust the numbers before I post the MARCH/APRIL thread.

Chèli

I understand we are to report new ROOTed books here? I've finished my second one. The ticker is updated, my own thread will be.

I have increased my goal from 40 up to 50. Ticker is updated.

>116 Robertgreaves: I've never used Storygraph so I can't compare. I think the differentiating factor with Fable is its ability to create book clubs and talk about each chapter individually. There is also a function (which I haven't tried so I'm not sure how it works) whereby if you get the e-book from Fable, you can actually read the book with other folks and have the opportunity to see their comments and reflections. It's definitely a neat concept to rally readers under a book.

ROOT #12 completed, and first ROOT for March - I Am Number Four. My ticker is updated.

March/April Thread is up!

https://www.librarything.com/topic/379158