Great Backyard Bird Count Set for February 16-19

Need a cure for the midwinter doldrums that is fun, easy and free and helps bird conservation? From February 16 through 19, the 10th annual Great Backyard Bird Count will give people of all ages and all levels of experience a chance to discover birds in their neighborhood and "Count for the Record." The four-day count, sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, aims to get a real-time "snapshot" of bird distribution and abundance across the U.S. and Canada during winter. Participants can join the count wherever they are-at home watching a bird feeder, on a walk, while fishing or otherwise enjoying the outdoors. Simply count the highest number of each species seen during an outing or a sitting, and enter the tally on the Great Backyard Bird Count website at www.birdsource.org/gbbc. The website keeps a real-time record of what birds are recorded by species and location, and includes photo galleries and information on identifying bird species. In 2006, about 60,000 participants reported 7.5 million individual birds representing a record-breaking 623 species. Results help scientists track changes in bird populations and ecological changes that may otherwise go unnoticed. For instance, last year's count revealed a stunning invasion of snowy owls in the Pacific Northwest, the migratory pathways for sandhill cranes, the devastating effect of West Nile virus on the American crow, and the rapid range expansion of the Eurasian collared dove, an exotic species. Bird count participants will find that advancing the cause of science can also be a lot of fun. "The count has great scientific value, but it's also about enjoying the outdoors with family and friends," says Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologist Beth Waterbury. "Bird watching is simply an uplifting, enlightening activity no matter your age or skill level." For more information, visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc or call Waterbury at the Salmon Region Fish and Game office at 208-756-2271.