After 5: For the Birds

“I am more invested in my hobby,” Berger says. “For many folks, birding comes first, and then further participation brings a heightened awareness of the importance of trees, clean water and air, and flowers and plants.”

Berger and other birders will participate in the Feb. 16–19 Great Backyard Bird Count, which helps Springfield Conservation Nature Center officials determine the local concentration of birds. During the four-day event, volunteers across North America are asked to tally the number of birds and their species for at least 15 minutes.

“We call this citizen science collaboration,” Nature Center naturalist Kim Banner says of the bird count, part of a nationwide effort. “Local volunteers can participate and know they are a part of a massive bird count in the USA and Canada. It is one of the world’s largest volunteer efforts, and provides a comprehensive, midwinter snapshot of the numbers, types and distribution of birds across the continent.”

Organizers have built a competition around the event.

“We’re trying to raise the number of bird count tally sheets that are submitted from the Springfield area,” Banner says. “Our goal is to be one of the top submitters in the state.”

Banner said the number of bird-count participants in 2006 was the second highest total since the program began nine years ago. Participants should return completed tally sheets to the Nature Center.

“The Springfield Nature Center wants to challenge the citizens of Springfield and surrounding area to help us make this year’s count the highest participation ever,” Banner says. “The nature center will offer prizes in a number of categories.”

More about birds

For individuals who want to learn more about birds and how to watch them, the Greater Ozarks Audubon Society offers a bird-watching club.

“Birders do more than just bird watch; they also learn about bird songs, nest-building and habitats, migratory patterns and environmental changes,” says Charley Burwick, a longtime society officer and member.

More information is at www.greaterozarksaudubon.org.

Nature Center Directions

The Springfield Conservation Nature Center is located in southeast Springfield, just west of U.S. Highway 65, exit off of James River Freeway. Take the Glenstone Avenue-James River Freeway south and turn left at the Nature Center sign.

Facility hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily

Park hours: During daylight

Phone: (417) 888-4237

Web site: www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/cnc/springfd

How to Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count

1. Count birds for at least 15 minutes during Feb. 16–19. Count birds at as many places and on as many days as you like – just keep a separate list of counts for each day and/or location.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time, and write it down.

3. Enter your results at www.birdsource.org/gbbc or turn in a tally sheet to the Springfield Conservation Nature Center.

Why Count Birds?

Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are constantly in flux, and no single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.