|
North American Birdwatching Open
Audubon International’s North American Birdwatching Open coincides with
International Migratory Bird Day and focuses attention on the wonder of
migratory birds and the role golf courses can play in conserving
habitats. Since 1998, the free, 24-hour bird count has been held on the
second Saturday in May (golf course in southern locations may conduct
the count on the second Saturday of March or April to account for
earlier peak migration activity). The results provide a valuable
snapshot of migratory bird activity on North American golf courses.
2007 North American Birdwatching Open
Results!!!
Join us in 2008!
-
March - Southern
Tier (southern Florida and Texas)
-
April - Southeast
and Southwest
-
May - Mid-Atlantic,
Central/Midwest,
Great Lakes, Northeast, Northwest
Who can participate?
Golf courses in the U.S. and Canada. Come back in early 2008 to
learn more and enroll.
What’s involved?
Participants register online and download a Bird
Checklist and Participant
Questionnaire.
Rules for participation are simple: over the course of 24-hours, make a
list of each bird species seen or heard within the boundaries of the
golf course.
Most participants start early—around 6 a.m.—and spend
several hours scouring various golf course habitats, such as woods,
meadows, wetlands, and other water bodies. Birdwatchers at some courses
continue throughout the day, while other courses make the Birdwatching
Open a fun “community” event, inviting golfers, families, or community
members to participate for several hours.
We
encourage all participants to invite someone experienced in bird
identification to help, if needed, to contribute to a more accurate
count. Results must be FAXed, e-mailed, or mailed to Audubon
International within one week of the event. All results are compiled
together for overall and regional winners. Certificates are awarded to
members in each region who record the most species.
Get involved and get results!
Participants enjoy a fun day of birding that results in a partial
species inventory for the golf course. The event also offers
opportunities to reach out to birdwatchers in the local community and
raise awareness of wildlife on golf courses. In addition, the results
contribute to a growing body of data about the value of golf course
wildlife habitats and the diversity of birds that they attract.
What does
it cost?
Free
Participant
Resources for 2008
Participants submit their
results using the 2008 Participant Questionnaire and Bird Checklist.
For more
information please e-mail Jennifer Batza, Membership Coordinator, at
jbatza@auduboninternational.org or call 518-767-9051 x12.
|
