Archive 2009

Breaks Park to participate in Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Breaks, VA – Breaks Interstate Park is seeking volunteers who will assist in the Christmas Bird count Saturday, December 19 in an effort to determine increases and declines in area bird species.

The area covered by the park’s bird count is a circle ranging from Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to the Grundy Airport and then to John Flannagan and back to the park. Breaks Park Naturalist Terry Owens noted that since the area the park is responsible for is so large, volunteers are needed to make sure it’s adequately covered.

The count will begin inside the park at 8 am and will run through 4 pm. Volunteers may begin bird watching from their homes, or choose any area within the designated boundaries, Owens said. However, he added that it is important for anyone wishing to volunteer to contact him to ensure that there’s no overlap in counting. Volunteers may also meet at the Breaks Park Visitor Center at 8 am on December 19 to be assigned an area.

Owens said at the close of the count, a report will be prepared including all the information from participating bird counters, which will be published by the Audubon Society. Volunteers wishing to be named in the report are required by the Audubon Society to pay a $5 fee. Student volunteers under 18 years of age may have their names published at no charge.

The park has done the Christmas Bird Count since 1981. The count is very important because it provides the Audubon with information on the health of the environment. If significant changes in any bird population are found, especially a decline, an investigation would follow to determine the problem and the possibility of correcting it.