Tri-County Rochester/Potawatomi Wildlife Park Christmas Bird Count Is Saturday
Posted
Staff Report-
TIPPECANOE – The nationwide Christmas Bird Census is a holiday tradition that counts birds in the holidays. Its roots extend back to the turn of the previous century beginning on Christmas Day 1900. The modern day locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, Calif., with most counts in or near the population centers of northeastern North America. The primary objective of the Christmas Bird Count is to monitor the status and distribution of bird populations across the Western Hemisphere. When the CBC data is combined with that of other surveys such as the North American Breeding Bird Survey, a clearer picture of how bird populations throughout the Americas have changed in time and space over the past hundred years develops. Data helps reveal the impact of diseases such as, in years past, the West Nile virus. Since birds are overall indicators of the health of the environment, the count can also tell a great deal about people and their impact on local flora and fauna. It is once again time for the annual Tri-County Rochester Christmas Bird Count. This particular count, during the North American event, covers a 15-mile circle where the counties of Marshall, Kosciusko and Fulton counties meet. Come participate in the count at Potawatomi Wildlife Park and surrounding area. This year continues the goal of creating a list of birds found specifically on Potawatomi Wildlife Park. Contact the Potawatomi Wildlife Park if you are interested in participating in this count. It is at 8 a.m. Saturday at Potawatomi Wildlife Park Interpretive Center, 16998 Ind. 331, Tippecanoe. Cost is free and includes published annual report. For more information, call Executive Director Mike Stephan at 574-498-6550 or visit the parks website at www.GetIntoNature.com and click on the “upcoming events” tab.
