Kane Christmas Bird Count set for Dec. 16

LOVELL – Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area will once again be hosting the Meadowlark Audubon Society Kane Christmas Bird Count. All birders or those interested in birding are welcome to join.

The Kane Christmas Bird Count will be held on Saturday, December 16. Participants should plan to meet at the Bighorn Canyon Visitor Center in Lovell at 7 a.m. to check in, select a route, and enjoy a hot beverage.

Please drive a 4-wheel drive vehicle if possible. If you don’t have a 4-wheel drive vehicle, the staff will try to pair you with a team has one. At check-in participants will be asked for their vehicle license number and description, and a cell phone number for safety reasons.

Participants should bring binoculars, bird books, spotting scope, camera, lunch, side dish for dinner, warm clothing and footwear, hat and gloves, and plenty of water and/or warm drinks. A clip board is handy to record findings. The Kane Count Circle centered around the old town of Kane extends from roughly Moncur Springs on the west side to Sand Draw near Lovell and includes a good portion of the Yellowtail Habitat. Since the pheasant season is still open, wearing hunter orange is a good idea for safety.

The Christmas Bird Counts are held throughout North and South America and the Pacific Islands are sponsored by the National Audubon Society. As a citizen scientist during the Christmas Bird Count, participant observations identify species at risk, focus public policy, initiate conservation strategies, influence public commitment, and locate birds on the move due to climate change.

Everyone is welcome - no expertise required, so bring a friend. Check out the Meadowlark Audubon website http://www.meadowlarkwyo.org for more information about Christmas Bird Counts in our area or contact Neil and Jennifer Miller at 307-568-9346 or by email [email protected] for more information about the Kane count.