By Signe Hammer
Come help count the world’s birds! Join the Audubon birdwalk on Sunday morning. Or count birds in your own yard or local park anytime tomorrow (Friday) through Monday. Or do both!
Why count? For 25 years, the Great Backyard Bird Count has provided an annual snapshot of the worldwide distribution and abundance of birds. These snapshots help scientists answer such questions as how climate change is affecting bird populations around the globe. Their conclusions can help us protect these beautiful creatures and the environment we share with them.
Join the Audubon birdwalk: On Sunday, we’ll walk with leader Luke Rich along the Rio Laja near the bridge at Montecillo de Nieto, just past the back road into Atotonilco. The varied habitat includes a tree-lined river trail and grassland, with open sky for raptors.
To keep everyone safe and make social distancing possible, we’re limiting the number of participants to 12, with preregistration required; please email audubondemexico@gmail.com. Carpooling is essential, so let us know if you are driving and can transport others. Masks are required in the cars, and we’re asking that everyone be vaccinated.
Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and bring water and a hat. We’ll have our Audubon de México bird guide, Birds of San Miguel—with 81 species commonly found in the San Miguel area—for sale. Our guides carry telescopes so that everyone can see distant birds clearly, and we’ll also have a few pairs of binoculars to lend. Plan to arrive at 7:45, as we leave promptly at 8. You’ll be back by noon, with new entries for your life list and new birding friends.
Count birds in your own backyard Friday to Monday, February 18-21. If you are familiar with our local birds, spend as little as 15 minutes counting the birds in your own yard or local park on any or all of the four days. To avoid double-counting, try standing in one spot and recording the number of each species you see. Keep a record each time you count—with the date, your start time and total time, your name and your birdwatching-location. Send your count lists to audubondemexico@gmail.com
For more information, visit our website at: http:// www.audubonmexico.org
Audubon Birdwalk and Great Backyard Bird Count
Sat, Feb 19 7:45am-Noon
Meets in front of Instituto Allende
Ancha de San Antonio 20
Preregistration required: audubondemexico@gmail.com
Members free, non-members 200 pesos or US $10
