Upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count

CEI bird club members met on a frigid February 11th morning to catch up on their past month’s bird sightings, discuss the escalation of bird flu in the wild avian population and speculate as to what may be contributing to the decline of formerly abundant species in the Marsh. Black tern, yellow-headed blackbirds and black crowned night herons used to be commonly sighted while birding in the marsh but are now a rarity. Habitat loss and adverse weather events both here and at overwintering sites could be factors. Members plan increased surveys and trail visits this year weather permitting.

On a brighter note, members reviewed the surveying and reporting processes for the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) February 14-17, 2025. A collaboration between Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada, the GBBC is a GLOBAL survey started in 1998. More information on how to participate yourself go to https://www.birdcount.org/