NEWS RELEASE                                                                                   February 9, 2006

 IT’S TIME FOR THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

The Northern Neck Audubon Society (NNAS) invites all area residents to participate in the 2006 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), occurring Friday February 17 through Monday February 20.

This annual event is run by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited.  Its purpose is to document where the birds are, and track changes in their numbers compared with previous years.  Participants contribute to scientific knowledge by joining in the only count that creates a mid-winter snapshot of what the birds are doing across North America.  According to NNAS Education Chairman Jim Groff, “Birds serve as an ecological “marker” and thus help scientists determine the overall health of our environment.”   

“Participation is easy and enjoyable,” said Groff.  Only a basic knowledge of bird identification is required, and participants can count birds for as little or as long a time as they wish.  They note the highest number of each species they see at any one time and enter their sightings online at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc, where complete instructions for participation can be found.  In 2005, GBBC participants sent in more than 52,000 checklists, with a record-breaking 613 species and more than 6.5 million birds counted.  This year for the first time awards will be given to states, provinces, and localities that submit the most checklists.

For additional information, call Rae Hinch at 804-435-7484.

End of Release

Contact:  Joy Bolger, NNAS Publicity Chair, 804-453-4466