If you’ve ever wanted to do something for the birds, now’s the time.
This Saturday, December 19, you can be a part of “the longest-running community science project in the world.”
Blythe Hazellief at the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association says the Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count started small.
"There used to be a Christmas tradition of going out and hunting—families would go out and see who could hunt the most birds. So, bird conservationists decided to create this other event that was an alternative that wouldn’t have that impact on bird populations," Hazellief says.
A century later, tens of thousands of people take part in this bird census, and all sorts of scientists use the data.
Last year, 42 million birds were counted in North America. 2,500 were spotted in Greene County alone.
Groups will be meeting up at parks and nature preserves around the Miami Valley. And this year, because of the pandemic, Hazellief says people can even count birds at home.
You can sign up by contacting the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association or Glen Helen Nature Preserve.