'Great Backyard Bird Count' Comes to Gwinnett EHC

Submitted article

When you think of popular outdoor activities, you may conjure images of bicycling, hiking and gardening. One activity that might not come to mind immediately is birding. It is estimated that 85 million Americans enjoy observing, photographing and feeding wild birds, which makes birding (or bird watching) one of the nation’s favorite pastimes.

Join the Environmental and Heritage Center (EHC) this weekend as it explores the exciting world of birding by participating in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 14, 15 and 16. Learn about birds and the important role they play in the eco-system through crafts and activities. EHC staff will lead hikes throughout each day and take guests on short bird counts. Findings from the counts will be entered into a database sponsored by the National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada. The database, collected by citizen scientists, will help track changes in bird populations on a massive scale as tens of thousands of volunteers from across the world plan to participate.

“The EHC is excited to once again provide bird focused programming during the annual Great Backyard Bird Count,” said Jason West, EHC director of programming. “Birds are a true indicator of an area’s environmental health, so tracking the local area’s feathered population is extremely important.”

In addition to the ongoing counts and activities throughout each day, the EHC is partnering with the Southern Wings Bird Club to delve deeper into the sport of birding. Volunteers from the club will provide Birding 101 and Birding 102 classes. Birding 101 is a 40 minute beginner’s class on the basics of bird watching. Birding 102 focuses specifically on local birds and how to identify them. This class contains a 40 minute inside presentation with a one hour outside bird walk. Both classes are recommended for ages 8 and up.

The EHC is open on Saturday, Feb. 14 and Monday, Feb. 16 from 9am until 4pm. Sunday hours for the EHC are12pm until 4pm. Birding 101 will take place at 1pm and Birding 102 will take place at 2pm on all three days. Pre-registration for both Birding 101 and 102 is encouraged and can be done online at www.gwinnettEHC.org.

All activities and classes are included with admission. EHC members are free.