Join members of the Presque Isle Audubon Society Dec. 15 for the 113th Christmas Bird Count.
The free, daylong count will start at 7 a.m. at the ranger station on Presque Isle State Park. Groups will cover as much of the count circle as possible in the morning, then return to ranger station for lunch and plan the afternoon’s birding. At 5 p.m., participants will meet at Hoss’s, 3302 West 26th St., for dinner and a final count.
All birding skill levels are invited. Bring binoculars, a birding guide, a brown bag lunch and a spotting scope, if you have one. Dress warmly and in layers.
Bird counts will take place Dec. 14 through Jan. 5, and for the first time will be free for all participants. Thousands of people participate each year in gathering vital data for the longest-running wildlife census that assesses the health of bird populations and helps guide conservation actions.
Jamestown Audubon will have a count Dec. 15 in Warren and another Dec. 16 in Jamestown, N.Y.
Register and find other scheduled count circles here.
For results from past counts, visit Audubon’s Data & Research section.
I wish I had signed up for the Count. If only I had known what was to happen at my backyard feeders yesterday! I live just south of the zoo, with Mill Creek behind, in a small wooded area. As I was eating breakfast, I glanced out the window and what a sight. There was a Pileated Woodpecker on my suet feeder. Maybe six feet from my face. What a shock! What a wonderful feeling! What a shame my camera was way upstairs! As I watched, more birds kept coming,all within a very few minutes. I had Hairy,Downy, and Redbellied woodpeckers. A flock of robins. At least 6 Cardinals all at the same time (unusual for so many, together). Snow buntings,tufted titmice, and our normal visitors, chickadees,of course many sparrows, varied kinds. Blue jay, I felt like I was in a living Christmas card with them all there at the same time. They even scared the squirrels away! I hope Mr. Pileated liked my suet, so that he comes back again!