30 — Narth Shoro News - Sunday, February 13, 2000 Put your backyard bird sightings on the map AT the turn of the last century, the passenger pigecn had become extinct in the wild, and very few people even knew. It’s too late for the Passenger Pigeon, but it may nor be too late for North American birds that are cur- rently showing population declines. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society have made it easy help these birds and to) help ensure common birds stay common. They are asking everyone, continent-wide, to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, Feb. 18 to 21. By participating in Great Backyard Bird Count 2000, families, classrooms, commu- nity groups, and individuals ofall ages and skill levels can help scientists document the abundance and distribution of North America’s winter bird populations at the start of the first spring migration of the new millennium. 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The online nature of the conn, combined with wide- splead etltacd participaciaa, assists scientists in both the ino the form) of short: and long-term. “By participaung in’ the Great Backyard Bird Count, people from subtropical Florida and Hawaii to Arctic Canada and Alaska will help us understand better the effects of changing, weather and landscape on our birds’ Abundance and distribucion patterns.” said Dr. Frank Gill, senior vice president tor science at Natiorval Audubon, Last year, some 42,000 reports: showed Jarge num. bers of American robins win- tering farther north than usual, Further research suggest- ed a correlation between robin distribution absence of snus. For example, in the northern peninsula of Michigan, snow cover execeded 24 inches, and only one Jone robin was reported. In central‘ and southern parts of the state, where snow cover was five inches or less, robin reports were copi- ous. How shifts in distribution tie in with large-scale weath- er patterns, such as El Nifo, La Nia, and global warm- ing, has vet to be deter- mined. The data entry forms at the GBBC Web site will ask participants to provide infor- mation about snow cover in their area. Cornell Lab and Audubon researchers empha- size that every observation of every bird seen is important, no matter how common the species. Chickadees, jays, doves, even the ubiquitous starling and house sparrow — the GBBC is collecting sightings of them all. In fact, the most common birds often demonstrate the most important parterns. “Many birds that are now rare or showing population declines were once common. The passenger pigeon, for example, used to occur in flocks of thousands and now they’re extinct. Red-headed woodpeckers have already aad disappeared from much of the northeastern U.S. and are declining throughout their range,” said Dr. John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He points out ‘that the uninitiated often mistake the more common male downy, | hairy, or red-bellied wood: peckers (which also have red on their head) for this species of high conservation con- cern. “How tragic it would be for the world to learn that the red-headed woodpecker, once a household name in many areas, had joined the iikes of the passenger pigeon, the great auk, and other extinct species. The Great Backyard Bird g Count may yield more data 183 Pemberton Ave, about the current. strong- holds of the red-headed woodpecker, data thar may be used to help implement conservation Measures before it’s too fate.” Participants also can help follow up on an emerging COMSErVALION success StOrY. “In Hght of the proposed removal of the bald eagle irom the list of endangered and threatened species, we encourage birders this year fo pay special attention to this national symbol,” said Gill. “American and Canadian citizens alike can help scien- tists monitor the health and abundance of this once- endangered bird with an besvadtigey ind breadth never before possible. . Thanks to support trom Ford Motor Company and Wild Birds Unlimited, spon- sors of the GBBC, the Web site is featuring special pages that. provide information about bald eagles, including how to. distinguish them from similar-looking species, In addition to the eagle feature, the GBBC Web site. provides educational materi-’ als ideal for families, youth groups, and classrooms. . There’s a Let’s Talk About Birds vocabulary sec- tion, a Bird-brained Bibliography of reference books, and a How to Birdwatch introduction to birding. Tips on teeding birds are. also provided. And kids will enjoy watching as their postal code appears on the animated map — showing reports. They'll also enjoy voting for their favourite bird. Birding is the fastest- growing outdoor recreation, with some 60 million people: now participating in bird-’ watching activities. To participate, tally the highest nunher of each species seen at one time (so as not to count the same birds more than once). Then icg on to www. bird- source.org and click on the Great Backyard Bird Count. button. Directions are pro- vided at the site. Participation in the count is free, and no registration is necessary. Those without Internet access should try their local library, mature centre, or, other community group. Call Wild Birds Unlimited. toll-free ar (1-800) 326-4928 to find out if the franchise. nearest you is entering. reports for their offline cus-: tomers. af For more information,; including how to coordinate‘ efforts to. enter reports for’ those who aren’t online, call the Cornel} Lab toll-free (1-. 800) 843-BIRD (2473) or write them at Cornell Lab of Ornithology/GBBC, 159: Sapsucker Woods Ithaca, NY 14850. TALKING YELLOW 985-7195 ibe Road,”