2/2/2009
Bird and nature fans throughout North America are invited to join thousands of everyday bird watchers for the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) at Pipestem Resort State Park in Summers County Feb. 13-16, 2009. And if you don’t know woodpeckers from a nuthatch or a junco from a mockingbird, you can join naturalist Jim Phillips and learn while you count.
“We won’t see that big yellow bird from Sesame Street, but one of the many species we likely will see is a little yellow bird with black and white on its wings, an American goldfinch,” says Phillips. “We’ll be counting all the different species and learning about them at the same time on our walks and at the Nature Center. Winter is absolutely the best time to learn bird identification and for folks like me, it’s a joy to review favorites at feeders, in flight and by their songs.”
Birding activities are open to the public at the park at no charge. “Our activities will be short, easy walks but be sure to dress for the weather,” Phillips advises. “If you have binoculars, bring them, but we also have several pairs to loan. Those not interested in attending walks and hikes are encouraged to visit the Nature Center during open hours for an informal discussion of attracting birds to your yard and how to identify them. I enjoy helping people learn about our backyard birds and even the occasional unusual species that might be in our neighborhood.
“We participate in the Great Back Yard Bird Count because I’m an avid birder, but anyone can participate from their home also.” For more information or to conduct your own count visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc
Birding activities at Pipestem Resort include:
· Friday, February 13
10 a.m. Eagle Watch at the Mouth of the Bluestone River
Meet in the Nature Center parking lot for a car caravan to Bluestone State Park to look for eagles. Round trip is 20 miles. (2 hours)
1 p.m. Bird Walk. Southside Trail
Meet at Pipestem Park Headquarters. (1 - 1½ hours)
3 p.m. Birdies! The other kind. Par 3 Golf Course Observation
Meet in the Pipestem Recreation Center parking lot. (1 hour)
· Saturday, February 14
9 a.m. Bird Walk. Long Branch Lake
Meet McKeever Lodge lobby - the main lodge. (1- 1 1/2 hour)
Restaurant opens at 7:00 a.m. for early birders.
11 a.m. Bird Walk. Northside Trail
Meet at Pipestem Park Headquarters. (3/4 hour)
1p.m. Bird Walk. Law Hollow Trail
Meet in McKeever Lodge lobby. (1 - 1 ½ hours)
3 p.m. Bird Observation! From Pipestem Knob Lookout Tower
Meet in the tower parking lot, walk to tower. (3/4 hour)
· Sunday, February 15
9:00 a.m. Bird Walk
Meet in McKeever Lodge Lobby (1 hour)
· Nature Center Hours February 13 - 15
Friday – Noon until 2 p.m.
Saturday – 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
Sunday – 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
For information about additional birding or wildflower hikes scheduled at West Virginia State Parks and Forests, go to www.wvstateparks.com and click the Hikes and Walks icon. The information is updated as new hiking and identification activities are scheduled
Pipestem Resort is open year-round for hiking, nature activities, fishing , lodging, cabins, restaurant, conference services and seasonal amenities such as golf, sledding, swimming, aerial tram, and other family and group interests. For more information about Pipestem Resort or birding activities, call (304) 466-1800 or visit www.pipestemresort.com.
The Great Backyard Bird Count History and Information
A joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, this free event is an opportunity for families, students, and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards, and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation. Participants count birds and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.
“The Great Backyard Bird Count benefits both birds and people. It’s a great example of citizen science: anyone who can identify even a few species can contribute to the body of knowledge that is used to inform conservation efforts to protect birds and biodiversity,” said Audubon Education VP, Judy Braus. “Families, teachers, children and all those who take part in GBBC get a chance to improve their observation skills, enjoy nature, and have a great time counting for fun, counting for the future.”
Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and reporting their sightings online at www.birdcount.org. Participants can also explore what birds others are finding in their backyards—whether in their own neighborhood or thousands of miles away. Additional online resources include tips to help identify birds, a photo gallery, and special materials for educators.
The data these “citizen scientists” collect helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation. Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years. In 2008, participants submitted more than 85,000 checklists.
“The GBBC has become a vital link in the arsenal of continent-wide bird-monitoring projects,” said Cornell Lab of Ornithology director, John Fitzpatrick. “With more than a decade of data now in hand, the GBBC has documented the fine-grained details of late-winter bird distributions better than any project in history, including some truly striking changes just over the past decade.”
Each year, in addition to entering their tallies, participants submit thousands of digital images for the GBBC photo contest. Many are featured in the popular online gallery. Participants in the 2009 count are also invited to upload their bird videos to YouTube; some will also be featured on the GBBC web site. Visit www.birdcount.org to learn more.
Businesses, schools, nature clubs, Scout troops, and other community organizations interested in the GBBC can contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at (800) 843-2473 (outside the U.S., call (607) 254-2473), or Audubon at citizenscience@audubon.org or (202) 861-2242, Ext 3050.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible, in part, by support from Wild Birds Unlimited.
Contact Information
Jim Phillips
304-466-1800 x 344