By Kevin Powell
Conservation Agent
Are daytime getting longer or shorter? Either manner the month is flying by. Winter birding might be a good way to get open air within the winter months. Temperatures are unseasonably heat wanting on the forecast. A pair of binoculars and a nature hike in your native conservation space is a good way to get open air. A full hanging feeder close to the lounge window can present some wonderful birding, too.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages Missouri birders of to grow to be citizen scientists by serving to with the National Audubon Society’s 124th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) by means of Jan. 5, 2024.
The CBC is an annual chicken census the place 1000’s of volunteers throughout the U.S., Canada, and different international locations exit over a 24-hour interval on one calendar day to depend birds between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5. The knowledge on winter chicken populations helps monitor the long-term standing of species and large-scale tendencies. Each CBC has a coordinator who assigns parts of a 15-mile diameter depend circle to members to depend all birds seen and heard over a 24-hour interval. Missouri hosts about 20 CBCs. Learn extra at audubon.org/conservation/join-christmas-bird-count and call the CBC organizers listed for particulars on the precise depend circles.
One of my favourite applications to provide is winter birding. Bird feeders throughout the winter are a fantastic likelihood to look at native songbirds up shut. Just a few issues to remember are preserve family cats indoors, place feeders far sufficient away from your own home as to not appeal to rodents, and place stickers on any home windows that might be a collision hazard. After the shortest day of the yr, Dec. 21, you’ll have extra hours of statement.
For extra info, you could contact the Kirksville Regional Office at 660-785-2420 Conservation Agent Kevin Powell at 665–216–1389.
