News
SPRING BIRD COUNT 2009
Mark your calendars, this year’s Spring Bird Count will be held on Saturday, May 9th. David & Heidi Benson will once again serve as the coordinator for the McDonough County count. Everyone, experts and amateurs alike, are invited to assist with the count. New participants are asked to contact Dave or Heidi at 836-6233. All of those wishing to participate in the count will be asked to attend a minimum of one of two warm-up field trips. These trips will be held at local parks and are intended to give everyone a chance to go over designated count areas and counting procedures as well as to practice bird identification.
The following warm-up trips are listed below. Please try to attend at least one of the two warm-up trips if you plan to participant in the Spring Bird Count.
Bird Count Warm-up Dates:
Saturday, morning 8 am on April 18th at Gerald White’s, 8am Meet at Ball-4 Macomb, 8:15am at Gerald’s
Friday, Evening 6 pm on April 24th at Glenwood Park, Macomb at the shelter next to the pine trees.
Sunday evening, 6 pm on May 3 at Spring Lake Park at the shelter overlooking lake.
4TH OF JULY BUTTERFLY COUNTS
The 4th of July butterfly count program has been held annually since 1975, when only 29 counts were held. Volunteers around North American select a count area with a 15-mile diameter and conduct a 1-day census of all butterflies observed within the circle. The counts are usually held in the few weeks before or after the 4th of July, but the best timing for butterfly observation in each count circle varies. The North American Butterfly Association (NABA) organizes the counts and publishes an annual report.
Once again there will be 3 Butterfly Counts held in Western Illinois. The counts are scheduled for the following dates:
Mason County (Revis) – Saturday, June 20th (tentative)
Beardstown – Thursday, June 25th (tentative)
McDonough County – Saturday, July 18th (tentative)
For each count we will meet at the K-Mart parking lot (north side, near the garden center) in Macomb to share rides for the counts. For the Mason County Count we plan to meet at 8:45am. For the Beardstown and McDonough County counts we will meet at 8:15am. Everyone is welcome to join in on these counts regardless of experience level. Wear comfortable shoes, lightweight