The Christmas Bird Count isn’t the only game in town. If you’ve always been a little reluctant to go out in unpleasant winter weather, here’s the easy alternative:
The 14th Great Backyard Bird Count runs from Feb. 18 to 21 in North America, and you don’t have to be a hiker or experienced bird-watcher to participate.
It’s a chance to spend 15 minutes to contribute to bird science. Or go all out and count longer on subsequent days. All counts are submitted online.
Last year about 63,000 citizen scientists submitted more than 97,300 checklists with 603 species to the National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada project.
A mid-February count provides ornithologists with a snapshot of winter birds and coincides with several migrating species. The timing allows researchers to identify changes in migration patterns.
The beauty of this is that you can pick your spot, whether it’s a park, a beach or your back yard.
Last year participants found almost 1.5 million American robins in a massive roost in Florida. Conclusions from that survey included the continuing expanding range of the invasive Eurasian collared dove and dramatic increases in tree swallows.
To participate, go to www.birdsource.org/gbbc. In addition to guidelines, the site also has information on bird identification, last year’s counts and opportunities to involve children in the project.
Still counting: State biologists have been counting, too. They’re participating in a national midwinter waterfowl survey. One team counted nearly 13,000 water birds between Bonneville and John Day dams on the Columbia River.
Birding adventure: Bring your friends and enjoy a float trip from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 19 and Feb. 27 beginning at the Rainbow Bridge in La Conner.
It’s an opportunity to see huge numbers of snow geese in the Skagit River estuary as well as ducks, herons, loons, grebes, hawks, turkey vultures and bald eagles.
Register with Edmonds Parks and Recreation, 425-771-0230. Cost is $87, $77 for youth ages 12 and under and seniors 65 and older. Lunch is included.
Circle the dates: The Port Susan Snow Goose and Birding Festival will run Feb. 26 and 27 in the Stanwood and Camano Island areas. There will be tours, speakers and much more for birders of all experience. Information: www.snowgoosefest.org.
Temporary closure: The Whiskey Dick Wildlife Area and a portion of the Quilomene Wildlife Area northeast of Ellensburg are closed to motor vehicles until May 1 to protect wintering elk.
About 4,600 elk, the majority of the Colockum elk herd, winter there. Fifty-two of the elk are tracked with global positioning system devices.
Sled dog dust-up: Claims of animal abuse aimed at Outdoor Adventures Whistler’s sled dog operation are under investigation. Tourism Whistler has suspended the sale of OAW’s activities through Whistler’s sales sites.
A British Columbia task force will review the sled-dog businesses throughout the province. The irony is that Whistler has long been known for its pet-friendly programs and parks.
Beach escape: It looks inevitable that we’ll have to pay for access to state parks and probably other lands with an access card (maybe $30) or pay a daily fee (maybe $10) to save some parks from closure.
There’s a proposed 70 percent reduction in the department’s next budget, but at least one area of our state may escape the toll.
State parks director Don Hoch said the department has recommended to the state Legislature that no permits be required for beach access or beach driving.
Walking on snow: Ninety-minute snowshoe treks out of Snoqualmie and Stevens passes, guided by Forest Service employees, continue into March. For information and reservations for Stevens Pass, call 360-677-2414; for Snoqualmie Pass, 425-434-6111.
Sharon Wootton: www.songandword.com.
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