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Scotts Bluff National Monument to join in Backyard Bird Count
Scotts Bluff National Monument will be participating in the Nationwide Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) Feb. 12-15, a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.
This free event is an opportunity for families, students and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation.
Participants count birds and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.
Events on both days will be at 8 a.m., the public is invited to join Park Rangers Steve Osburn and Valerie Newman as they count birds within the park’s boundaries. A different location will be visited each day. Participants will be able to park at the Visitor Center and join the rangers in the park shuttle as they visit birding sites.
Counts will be done on short hikes or from the shuttle van depending upon the weather. Park entrance fees will be waived for those participating in the bird counts on both days.
“The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to engage the whole family in a fun and healthy outdoor activity,” Park Ranger Valerie Newman said.
“Everyone can learn something new from participating. In 2009, the birders in the park counted 23 species totaling 3,700 individual birds. It’s always easier to identify birds when you have more than one pair of eyes, and it’s a lot of fun to bird with other people.”
Remember to bring your binoculars and dress accordingly.
Invaluable information is gained from these yearly counts and is added to the national database. Last year, more than 11.5 million birds of 630 species were counted.
Scientists have found the count shows an amazing amount of migratory, range and population information. The data from the citizen scientists helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation.
Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years.
Each year, in addition to entering their tallies, participants submit thousands of digital images for the GBBC photo contest. Many are featured in the popular online gallery.
Participants in the 2010 count are invited to submit their images to www.birdcount.org.
Additional information about Scotts Bluff National Monument programs and schedules can be obtained at the Visitor Center or by calling 308-436-9700.
This free event is an opportunity for families, students and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation.
Participants count birds and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.
Events on both days will be at 8 a.m., the public is invited to join Park Rangers Steve Osburn and Valerie Newman as they count birds within the park’s boundaries. A different location will be visited each day. Participants will be able to park at the Visitor Center and join the rangers in the park shuttle as they visit birding sites.
Counts will be done on short hikes or from the shuttle van depending upon the weather. Park entrance fees will be waived for those participating in the bird counts on both days.
“The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to engage the whole family in a fun and healthy outdoor activity,” Park Ranger Valerie Newman said.
“Everyone can learn something new from participating. In 2009, the birders in the park counted 23 species totaling 3,700 individual birds. It’s always easier to identify birds when you have more than one pair of eyes, and it’s a lot of fun to bird with other people.”
Remember to bring your binoculars and dress accordingly.
Invaluable information is gained from these yearly counts and is added to the national database. Last year, more than 11.5 million birds of 630 species were counted.
Scientists have found the count shows an amazing amount of migratory, range and population information. The data from the citizen scientists helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation.
Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years.
Each year, in addition to entering their tallies, participants submit thousands of digital images for the GBBC photo contest. Many are featured in the popular online gallery.
Participants in the 2010 count are invited to submit their images to www.birdcount.org.
Additional information about Scotts Bluff National Monument programs and schedules can be obtained at the Visitor Center or by calling 308-436-9700.
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