First-time birders welcome during Christmas Bird Count

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Photo for first-timers welcome during Christmas Bird Count is of two mourning doves perched on the branch of a plum tree in winter. They have snow on their wings and one has its feathers puffed up to stay warm. Photo by Mark Videan.

Mourning doves perched in a plum tree in Manistee Township. Photo: Mark Videan, 

By Pat Stinson

This year marks the 126th annual Christmas Bird Count, a bird census conducted by citizens of the U.S., Canada and Central and South America. The event is coordinated by The National Audubon Society and takes place Dec. 14-Jan. 5.

Citizens’ observations will be placed into a database researchers use to “spot trends” in bird populations, according to the society.

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Those interested in participating may watch birds in their yards, if they live within one of the designated survey areas, or they may choose to join a local group of birdwatchers who head into the field. The survey areas are circular, and each bird-watching group picks one day during the census period to look for birds within its circle.

Bird-watching experience is not required to participate in the count. Michigan Audubon indicated that some newcomers act as spotters for experienced birders, leading them to where they heard or saw birds. Others volunteer to drive, so the birders can keep watch as they travel within the survey area. Still others might tally the group’s observations.

The Manistee Christmas Bird Count will take place all day on Friday, Dec. 19, in Manistee County, according to coordinator Dr. Brian Allen. He said the circular counting area radiates 7.5 miles from a center point at Fisk Road and U.S. Highway 31 and includes: Manistee, Stronach, Onekama, Norwalk, Chief Lake and slightly south of Bear Lake to west of Brethren. An informational meeting will take place at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Oak Grove Hospitality Center, 309 W. Parkdale Ave., Manistee. Those interested in helping by watching feeders or birding in the field can contact Dr. Allen at 231-510-9380.

The Ludington Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, Dec. 20. Anyone interested in helping as field observers or feeder watchers (and who live within Ludington’s bird-counting circle), should e-mail David Dister at david.dister@gmail.com or call him at 231-845-7574.

Other counting areas can be found in Benzie, Lake and Wexford counties. To view a map and find a group, go to: https://audubon.org.

Read more stories about birds and birding HERE.

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