The Annual Backyard Bird Count Is a Fun Family Event

Date: February 12, 2009
Contact: Wouter Ketel, [phone] Ext. 3005

Harkers Island, North Carolina -- Cape Lookout National Seashore invites the public to participate in the 12^th annual Great Backyard Bird Count from February 13 through February 16.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent.  Scientists, birders, and non-birders from all over North America will be observing and uploading tallies of birds to a national database sponsored by the Ornithology Lab at Cornell University.  Data collected from this continent wide survey will be used for tracking bird health, overwintering, resident and migratory patterns, and habitat range.

Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event.  Folks can also participate in their backyards and communities, while hiking the Soundside and Willow Pond nature trails at the Harkers Island Shell Point area, or on the seashore islands. 

Those interested can stop by the Harkers Island Visitor Center for a bird checklist and data form or visit the event website at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ for forms and information. A limited supply of binoculars are available to loan and birding field guides are available for sale or loan at the Harkers Island Visitor Center for those that come to hike the nature trails.

The visitor center is open daily, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. For more information call 252-728-2250, extension 3001.