Annual bird count paints picture of feathered population
By Terri Gorney Lehman
Soon it will be time for the Christmas Bird Counts to begin across the area. It is the oldest citizen scientist project in the country. Since the CBC of 2015-16, birds counted at Ouabache State Park have been included in the National Audubon Society records.
In 2014, Larry Parker, the compiler for the Adams County Count, asked me if I would like to be the compiler. The county count was for the Indiana Audubon Society only. The next year, I changed it to a 15-mile diameter circle for the National Audubon Society that includes all of the Limberlost Conservation Area and Ouabache State Park. The new circle created was called SANJO (Southern Adams Northern Jay Ouabache) CBC.
Members of the Stockbridge Audubon Society (Fort Wayne), Mississinewa Audubon Club (Marion) and Robert Cooper Audubon Society (Muncie) plus members of the community participate every year with this count.
The Christmas Bird Count was begun in 1900 and relies on volunteers. This will be the 124th annual CBC. It is an early winter bird census. This count gives an idea of bird populations and how they have changed over the years. Some species have prospered and others have not. In our area, habitat restoration and creation of the Limberlost Conservation Area and Ouabache State Park have helped birds to thrive. We now have a year-round population of bald eagles and northern harriers and short-eared owls that are regular winter residents. Melissa Fey found a short-eared owl at the state park for last year’s CBC, a first for the park on this count.
SANJO CBC is held on Jan. 1 every year. Birds are counted in that 24-hour period inside the circle.
Do you live inside the circle and have at least 15 minutes to count species of birds and the number of them that you see? It is a great family project to help count birds at your feeders or in your neighborhood, or come to Ouabache State Park and take a hike and count the birds there. Every bird counts, some birds are only seen at bird feeders and not in the field.
Questions on how you can participate? Contact me at bandtgorney@aol.com.
If you plan on taking a hike this winter at the state park, a great place to see the birds is to walk around the bison enclosure. Small birds like American tree sparrows, bluebirds, Carolina chickadees and American goldfinch like this area.
Good Birding!
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