Sunday, December 13, 2015
Staff report
SLIPPERY ROCK, PA.
Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road, will provide an indoor observation station for the annual Butler County Christmas Bird Count from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend this free, informal birding session.
Jennings staff and a representative of the Bartramian Audubon Society will be on hand to explain observing and recording procedures and to help identify birds seen at the outdoor feeders. A basic introduction to the count’s history and procedures will be offered at 9:30 a.m. for anyone who is new to bird counts.
The event will allow participants to learn about the National Audubon’s original citizen-science project, to assist in gathering important data about bird population and migration trends, and to increase birding skills.
The count takes place from Monday through Jan. 5 of each year in established, local, 15-mile radius circles; the CBC is an early-winter bird census, in which volunteers count birds over a 24-hour period on a given day. In Butler County, the circle is centered in Moraine State Park.
Those attending are encouraged to visit www.audubon.org/content/join-christmas-bird-count before the event. For information, call 724-794-6011, or email jenningssp@pa.gov.