|
|
 |
 |
photo: audubon.org
115th Audubon
Christmas Bird Count
What is the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the bird count began on
Christmas day 1900, before that, the count was conducted, by going out
and shooting the birds, with firearms, to take a count of the birds in
an area. Today firearms are no longer used, just binoculars,
spotting scopes and identification books. The purpose of the
count is to study bird populations and determine whether a species
population is declining or increasing.
This year’s Audubon Christmas Bird Count for Darke County will be
December 20, 2014. It is being sponsored by the Darke
Countians for Wildlife Conservation and the Darke County Birders.
Meet at the McDonalds at 1301 Wagner Ave between 7 & 8 to eat and
then we will divide into teams and receive an area to count.
Assemble at the Darke County Park’s Nature Center, 4267 St Rte 502
at noon for a hot lunch and talk about the mornings unique or
interesting finds, be it plant, animal, bird, or whatever. We
will also discuss any areas that need to be covered in the
afternoon. All areas counted can be turned in at this time to Bob
Welch. Those finishing Saturday evening please turn in your count
tallies at the DC Birders meeting, at 7:00 PM on December 23rd at
Shawnee Prairie or at the Nature Center after the 23rd of
December. Count Week (CW) will be the 3 days before December
20th, 17, 18, 19 and the three days after the 20th, 21, 22, &
23. Birds counted on the 3 days before the 20th and the 3 days
after the 20th but, not counted on the 20th, can be added to the tally
and listed as CW species.
If you have bird feeders and live in the 7.5 mile radius circle,
centered where Rte 36 and Rte 127 cross, you can be part of the count
team. Please contact Steve Miller or myself at the numbers listed
below or join us at McDonalds Saturday morning to register.
If you enjoy watching birds or are a novice birder and have difficulty
identifying birds do not worry you will be paired with a more
experienced birder, the more eyes that are looking or ears that are
listening, the more birds identified. All you need are 2 good
eyes to identify birds by sight or a good sense of hearing and can
identify bird sounds. This gives the blind an opportunity to join
this fun activity as well as the sighted; however those of us less
fortunate folks, who can see well but cannot hear well, still need the
binoculars.
For more information contact Bob or Judie Welch at 937-968-3514 or
glennwelch1@gmail.com or Steve Miller 937-547-3340
|
|
|
|
