Birdwatching in February? Try it from your window. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an event for all with no training required. In case you missed the News-Leader article today (available here), the GBBC collects data for Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology which helps scientists understand the effects of conservation and environmental change.
"From novice bird watchers to experts, everyone is invited to participate in the free event by dedicating as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more of the four days to count birds, record their sightings (on a standardized checklist) and then report them to GBBC officials.
For a more hands-on introduction — with instruction and guidance from members of local Audubon society chapters — folks around the region can show up at scheduled GBBC events at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center (9AM-11AM Friday and Saturday morning); Lake Springfield (9AM-11AM Sunday and Monday morning); and the Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center in Joplin (all day Saturday)."
All the details and the on-line reporting is at this site, Birdcount.org.
