This Saturday, February 17th, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., you can hang out with people at Anita Purves Nature Center and Busey Woods and count birds. Seems like a rather insignificant activity, but it’s actually part of a nationwide event: The Great Backyard Bird Count, taking place over four days this week. According to the national website, “scientists use information from the Great Backyard Bird Count, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, to get the “big picture” about what is happening to bird populations.”
So get out there in nature, count some birds (and learn more about them in the process), and be a part of a broader scientific event. And right now, it looks like it’s going to be 40+ degrees and sunny on Saturday…downright balmy. More details below from their Facebook event page:
Guided Hikes at 10am & 3pm | All Ages; under 15 with adult
Help with conservation by counting birds. Anyone can participate – count for as little or as long as you wish! Record the birds you see through the windowed Wildlife Observation Room and during guided hikes. Instruction in bird identification will be provided. Dress for the weather, and bring binoculars if you have them or borrow a pair at the nature center. Free activity stations will also be available. To learn more about this annual four-day-long nationwide event, visit www.gbbc.birdcount.org
Photo from Facebook.