Birding events this weekend

Posted 8/21/12

With spring’s arrival, most of the migratory birds that were gone all winter have arrived to start their breeding activities. A few birds, loons for example, are migrating through the region to …

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Birding events this weekend

Posted

With spring’s arrival, most of the migratory birds that were gone all winter have arrived to start their breeding activities. A few birds, loons for example, are migrating through the region to points north. More bird songs are heard in the mornings now and even at night; last night, I was awakened by the call of a barred owl (“Hoo…hoo…who cooks for you?”). It’s the time of year that bird walks and other events are being held by local bird clubs and other organizations.

One event taking place this upcoming Saturday, May 14, is the Pennsylvania Migration Count (PAMC). The PAMC, established in 1992, helps gather data on migrating populations of birds and their distribution throughout the state. It is done for a 24-hour period in specified areas where participants count numbers of each species they see. Birders of all skill levels are welcome, and the area could be your backyard or a several mile trek in fields and forests. County compilers are available to help find good birding areas in each county. More information can be found at the Pennsylvania Society of Ornithology’s website, pabirds.org/PAMC/Index.html

Don’t live in Pennylvania, or feel like traveling to participate in the PAMC? You can take part in Cornell Lab’s Global Big Day, which also takes place on Saturday, May 14. This is a similar to the PAMC, but on a global scale, as the name implies. Again, you can bird as little or as much as you want, and all skill levels of birders are welcome. As with PAMC, instructions are available and data can be submitted online. Information and instructions are available at ebird.org/globalbigday/.

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