Celebrating the Great Backyard Bird Count!

February 8, 2016

There are many reasons to get out of the house and enjoy the wonders of a Maine winter.  This coming weekend, the Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) is pleased to be hosting a “Winter Birding Weekend,” celebrating the Great Backyard Bird Count.  Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.  In 2015, Great Backyard Bird Count participants in more than 100 countries counted 5,090 species of birds on more than 147,000 checklists!

On Friday, February 12^th at 7 pm, join DLLT as we introduce the Great Backyard Bird Count with a special program led by renowned birder and founder of the Maine Birding Trail, Bob Duchesne.  After a brief introduction to the Great Backyard Bird Count, Mr. Duchesne will lead a presentation entitled, “Bird Identification Made Easy.”  Learn the many tricks of the birding trade to help identify the numerous species that might arrive in your backyard!

On Saturday, February 13^th, the Downeast Lakes Land Trust and the Fundy Chapter of Maine Audubon are leading a “Winter Bird Walk” in Grand Lake Stream, participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count.  We will be reporting all sightings and bird activity to the Great Backyard Bird Count to support this international event.  Come out to support citizen science, meet experienced birders, and enjoy the mid-winter beauty of the Downeast Lakes region.  This walk is for people of all ages and skill levels and birdwatchers should meet at the Grand Lake Stream School Building at 8 am.

These events also celebrate the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend.  The Great Maine Outdoor Weekend is a series of events led by outdoor oriented organizations and companies to celebrate the how, where, and what of being active outside in Maine.  For more information about these events, please contact the Downeast Lakes Land Trust at (207) 796 – 2100 or email cbrown@downeastlakes.org.