01/02/14 The nationwide (CBC) is a holiday tradition – a ‘Christmas Bird Census’ – that counts birds in the holidays. Its roots extend back to the turn of the previous century beginning on Christmas Day 1900. The modern day locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California with most counts in or near the population centers of northeastern North America.
The primary objective of the Christmas Bird Count is to monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across the Western Hemisphere. When the CBC data is combined with that of other surveys such as the North American Breeding Bird Survey, a clearer picture of how bird populations throughout the Americas have changed in time and space over the past hundred years develops.
Data helps reveal the impact of diseases such as, in years past, the West Nile virus. Since birds are overall indicators of the health of our environment, the Count can also tell us a great deal about ourselves and our impact on local flora and fauna.
It is once again time for the annual Tri-County Rochester Christmas Bird Count. This particular count, during the North American event, covers a 15 mile circle where the counties of Marshall, Kosciusko, and Fulton Counties meet.
Come participate in the count at Potawatomi Wildlife Park and surrounding area. This year continues the goal of creating a list of birds found specifically on Potawatomi Wildlife Park. The Christmas Bird Count will be held on Satruday, January 4th, 2014 at 8 a.m. at the Potawatomi Wildlife Park Interpretive Center at 16998 State Road 331 in Tippecanoe. There is no cost to those participating and they will receive a published annual report.
Contact Potawatomi Wildlife Park if you are interested in participating in this count. For more information, please call Executive Director Mike Stephan at (574) 498-6550 or visit the parks website at www.GetIntoNature.com and click on the “UPCOMING EVENTS” tab.
