Charlotte, NC – The eleventh annual Great Backyard Bird Count will once again sweep Mecklenburg County and all over North America, counting birds February 15-18, 2008. Thousands of novice and expert bird watchers are invited to count and report their numbers via the Internet.
Participants in this project last year counted 11 million birds, tallied 616 species, submitted 80,000 checklists, and set a record for participation. The Northern Cardinal was once again the most frequently spotted bird last year. Charlotte and Mecklenburg County traditionally are among the most active participants in the Great Backyard Bird Count. The count helps researchers, ornithologists and conservationists better understand bird populations, migrations and distribution across the continent.
During this four day period this year, families, individuals, classes, and community groups are encouraged to count the birds that visit their feeders, parks, nature preserves, greenways, schoolyards, and backyards. Participating counters can take as little as 15 minutes to register the numbers and kinds of birds they see. Bird watchers then enter their observations at www.birdcount.org.
To prepare for the Great Backyard Bird Count, Reedy Creek Nature Center will host a free event Saturday, February 16, 9:30-11:30am that will be geared for all ages. Participants will learn about the bird count and receive birding basics to get them started on the project. Binoculars and count sheets will be provided along with free coffee. For more information call 311 or Reedy Creek Nature Center at 704-598-8857.
