The Great Backyard Bird Count

 

Calling All Bird Watchers!!!

THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT IS FEBRUARY 12-15, 2010!

 
Do you enjoy watching birds in your backyard or while out on a hike? Would you like to learn more about birds that call central Illinois home during the winter months? This is your chance! You don't need to be a bird expert to contribute to this citizen science program. Each year tens of thousands of volunteers help researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing - and how to protect them. We invite you to join the ranks of volunteers by counting at home or Sugar Grove Nature Center. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 12-15, from novice bird watchers to experts. Observations can take place in your yard at the park, or here at the Nature Center. You can count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as you wish) on one or more days of the event and report your sightings online at www.birdcount.org. This is a great activity for families, groups, and individuals!

 

We invite you to a special program, Backyard Bird Watching Basics, at the Nature Center on Saturday, January 16, from 10:00 am until noon (registration required) to learn more about the Great Backyard Bird Count and how to get involved. The program will include a brief introductory session on the goals of the Great Backyard Bird Count and how to collect data on bird sightings. Participants will then review basic bird identification techniques and learn to identify more than 25 common winter feeder birds! We will also discuss different types of bird feeders and seed that can be offered to attract birds. An optional hike will follow.

 

Sugar Grove Nature Center will be participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, and we would love your help! Join us for a special Breakfast with the Birds on Saturday, February 13 beginning at 9:00 a.m. (registration required). Stop in to enjoy a light breakfast and hot beverage while identifying birds from the Hazel Funk Holmes Bird Observatory. If you would rather be outside, we invite you to hike a section of the trails and report your observations back at the Nature Center. Whether you count at home or at the Nature Center we hope you will take part in the 2010 Great Backyard Bird Count! We are offering a limited number of binoculars and bird field guides for loan to help you get involved. More information on the Great Backyard Bird Count is available at www.birdcount.org.

 

The public is also invited to Stop In & Count on  Saturday, February  13.  Drop in between 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. where assistance will be on hand throughout the day to help you conduct a bird count.  No registration is required for Stop In & Count.

 

 

JOIN THE FUN AND HELP AREA BIRDS!

We hope you will join us for one or all of these FREE programs, sponsored by the John Wesley Powell Audubon Society. Although it is not necessary to attend the January 16th program in order to
assist with data collection during the count, we encourage you to enjoy both opportunities.
All ages are welcome. Please register in advance for the programs you plan to attend by

e-mailing register-sgnc@earthlink.net or calling 309.874.2174.