Connecticut River Watershed Council Invites You to Take Part in the Great Backyard Bird Count

February 15, 2011. Greenfield, MA – The Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRC) invites you to participate in the 14th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) February 18-21, 2011. The conservation group will also be hosting two events for bird enthusiasts on Saturday, February 19th.

 Northampton, MA – 10-11am, Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, meet at the North Farms Road parking area;

Springfield, MA – 1-2pm, Forest Park, meet near the zoo parking area.

“The Connecticut River watershed is an important migratory bird pathway. Participating in this bird count is an excellent way to enjoy and understand our watershed,” says Angela Mrozinski of CRC. From reports of rare species to large-scale tracking of bird movements, the GBBC provides insight into the lives of bird populations across North America. The results provide a snapshot of the whereabouts of more than 600 bird species. “There’s simply no better way to collect information about all these birds so quickly across such a large range,” said Janis Dickinson, Citizen Science director at the Cornell Lab, one of the organizers of the national event.

On the www.birdcount.org website, participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during the count. The site has tips to help identify birds and special materials for educators.

The event is FREE and is open to bird watchers of all ages and skill levels. Participants watch birds for any length of time on one or more days of the count and enter their tallies at www.birdcount.org.
Participants may also enter the GBBC photo contest by uploading images taken during the count. Many images will be featured in the GBBC website’s photo gallery. All participants are entered in a drawing for prizes that include bird feeders, binoculars, books, CDs, and many other great birding products.

For more information about the GBBC, visit www.birdcount.org. Or contact Angela Mrozinski, the CRC Community Outreach Coordinator, at amrozinski@ctriver.org or 413.772.2020 x204.

The Connecticut River Watershed Council works to protect the watershed from source to sea. The GBBC is a joint project of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada.

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