The count is on Audubon Society looks for trends
Christmas may be over, but the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania still will be looking for surprises under the tree, or in the tree.
The society will conduct its 11th Annual South Butler Christmas Bird Count on Sunday.
Bird-counters will take to the fields and woods to spot and count birds while others will tabulate the types and numbers of birds congregating at their bird feeders.
Chris Kubiak, director for education for the society, said the count technically lasts 24 hours starting at 6 a.m. when he will be out looking for owls, but said those wanting to take part in the bird count should meet at Succop Nature Park, 185 Airport Road in Penn Township, at 8 a.m. Sunday.
“I've got a long day ahead, but they can stay out as long, or as little, as they want to,” he said. “It's completely up to them.”
He has 75 volunteers signed up, but anyone is welcome. Volunteers will be broken up into teams and sent out with more-experienced counters to tally bird species and numbers.
The bird count is conducted within a circular area centered on Mars and running west to Zelienople, south to Cranberry Township, east to the Route 228 corridor and north to Connoquenessing Township.
Kubiak said people can contribute to the count from their homes by counting birds turning up at their bird feeders.
“If they have any interest they can count the feeders. We would love to have them participate,” he said.
People can email their results to ckubiak@aswp.org or call 724-799-4785.
It will take Kubiak approximately two weeks to tabulate the results using rigorous scientific protocols.Scientists rely on data gathered during bird counts across the country to detect and measure changes in the environment and bird populations throughout North America.Kubiak said last year's bird count tabulated 55 species and 7,300 individual birds.The information compiled, Kubiak said, can point out population shifts and changes in migration patterns due to climate change.He said the trend of bird species that previously would have wintered farther south staying in Butler County continued last year.“It's an unfortunate trend. Winters are warming up. December is like a fall month,” he said.Last year's count turned up some welcome surprises: five redheaded woodpeckers spotted at two sites.
The Jennings Environmental Education Center, 2951 Prospect Road in Brady Township, conducted its Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 18.“It was not open to the public this year because of COVID considerations,” said Stephanie Taylor, environmental education specialist. Instead, center employees counted birds and species from in and around the center.“We saw the brown creeper and the pileated woodpecker. We were happy to send those in,” said Taylor.The Jennings count is part of the Butler County Christmas Bird Count for the Bartramian Audubon Society conducted before Christmas and centered at a point in Moraine State Park and radiating out from there.
