Audubon Society bird counting to begin Sunday
The 115th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count begins Sunday in Washington County in the Buffalo Creek Watershed.
“For the hardy souls who wish to take to the fields and forests by vehicle or on foot, the meeting time is 7:15 a.m. at Taylorstown Christian Church, 32 Main Street, just off Route 221,” said Donna Riggle, secretary of the Buffalo Creek Watershed Association.
No experience is needed, but a field guide and binoculars are helpful. All participants are asked to sign up in advance with count compiler Larry Helgerman via email at bobolink1@earthlink.net or by calling 412-508-0321.
Participants are asked to dress appropriately for the weather and bring a dish for a potluck meal at the church at 12:30 p.m. when they can share information about their sightings.
Potential birders who live in the Buffalo Creek area can also be involved by counting the birds in their yards any time during the 24 hours of Dec. 14. This specific Christmas Bird Count “circle” includes all of Blaine, Hopewell and Independence townships, Claysville and West Middletown; and most of Donegal, Buffalo and Cross Creek townships. The circle’s center is near the intersection of Routes 221 and 231 and extends outward in all directions for 7.5 miles. Home participants are also asked to sign up in advance. Yard and feeder watchers use a special reporting form. More information is available by calling Riggle at 724-484-7537.
Several other counts are taking place in the area Dec. 20, including one in Washington, with field participants meeting at Washington & Jefferson College’s Dieter-Porter Hall on the corner of College and East Maiden streets at 7:30 a.m. to receive assigned areas. Anyone interested in helping with the field or feeder counts can contact Tom Contreras at tcontreras@washjeff.edu or at 724-223-6118.
Also Dec. 20, Nancy Page, 412-221-4795, is the compiler for the Pittsburgh South Hills circle, and Marjorie Howard, birdwatcher108@comcast.net, leads the Ryerson-Greene County count. On Dec. 27, Terry Dayton, tdayton@windstream.net, 724-627-9665, oversees the Clarksville-Greene County event previously hosted for decades by bird enthusiast Ralph K. Bell, who died this year at age of 99.
Anyone who wishes to participate at home can locate his or her Christmas Bird Count circle by visiting http://birds.audubon.org/get-involved-christmas-bird-count-find-count-near-you on the Audubon website.