Count for Conservation

Notebook in hand, my eyes scanned my backyard, ticking off numbers of juncos, goldfinches and house finches. As the small flocks shifted and moved—from tree to ground, and back to tree—I found myself in deepening concentration, focused only on getting my numbers right. Deadlines, assignments, story ideas—the subjects that normally occupy my waking moments—all gave way to my focus. This morning, I would be counting birds. And that was all. At one point, I felt a very light weight on my hat, heard light peeping: two goldfinches had landed on my head. How many times have I been in my backyard? And yet, until now, I had not been a part of my backyard. I was participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, an event held in February each year by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society. Its premise is simple: Wherever you are, watch and count birds for at least 15 minutes at any time during a four-day span. (This year’s count takes place from February 18 through 21). All you need is a bird guide and a willingness to count our feathered friends. The great writer Edward Abbey once write: “It’s not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it.” Here is a way to do both. The Great Backyard Bird Count isn’t just an idle exercise; it actually helps researchers determine long-term trends in bird populations. Obviously, one session of backyard observations is not enough to provide more than anecdotal evidence. But combined with observations from thousands of observers across the country, over a fixed time span each year, your observations help provide important data to bird conservationists. For instance, Eurasian collared doves—a non-native species—were not observed during the count until 2005. Last year, more than 550 were recorded around the southern part of the state, indicating a growing and possibly invasive population. Looking with a Purpose This winter, my wife and I spend one morning each month biking along the Boise River, stopping to count ducks, geese, herons and other water birds. This is part of a volunteer program for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), to determine long-term population trends of winter waterfowl on an urban river. I’m an avid duck hunter, so I know my waterfowl species: In hunting situations, I often have to make snap decisions on whether to shoot or not, based on fast-flying birds in low light conditions. I’m happy to give up a morning of hunting to help IDFG determine waterfowl population trends. And, in reality, I’m not giving up much: It’s amazing what I see along my home stretch of river when I’m alert and counting: Bald eagles. Flocks of goldeneyes, green-wing teal and buffleheads. Pairs of gadwalls. Belted kingfishers. Oftentimes, we believe we have to make long journeys to see wildlife, but the reality is there is much to explore and discover wherever we live. The key is looking with a purpose. It’s easy to miss the wild creatures right under our nose. As a lifelong hunter, birder and wildlife watcher, I’ve found it’s always best—if you want to see wild animals—to have some kind of goal when heading outdoors. I’m often struck by how much more I see when birding than when hiking. It’s because of that sense of purpose, rather than just covering miles. Similarly, when I participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, I’m often amazed at what uses my own backyard. I’ve never seen a Cooper’s hawk hunting the finches, until I started participating in the count. Now I realize that these hawks are probably flying over our yard most days. Counting for conservation gives that sense of purpose—and helps you assist researchers as well. There are many possibilities. The Nature Conservancy’s blog, Cool Green Science (blog.nature.org) frequently includes information on birds that scientists are tracking. If you’ve seen a swallow-tailed kite, for instance, biologists want to know. Project Feeder Watch relies on information from volunteers who send in information on bird use at their backyard feeders over a two-day period. Project Bud Burst is even more simple: Researchers ask that you submit the dates when you first notice various plants budding each spring. This provides information on how trees and shrubs are reacting to climate change. Participation in these programs is creating a network of citizen-scientists across the country, providing an impressive research network. But it’s more: It also strengthens our connection to place. The Nature Conservancy has long found that people care about places more than causes. Knowing a place and its wild inhabitants is what makes conservationists. Suddenly, a nearby river is not just a pretty place, but one alive with beavers and bald eagles and buffleheads. So this year, stand up and be counting: You’ll not only be having fun outdoors, you’ll be making a difference for conservation. Learn More Great Backyard Bird Count http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ Project Feeder Watch http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/ Project Bud Burst http://neoninc.org/budburst/ Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game Volunteers http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/about/volunteer/ Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Volunteers http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/volunteer/ Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Volunteers http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/volunteer/ The Nature Conservancy Volunteers http://www.nature.org/volunteer/