MAKING BACKYARD BIRDS COUNT: Counting birds in your 
own backyard for science ... on Passport to Texas. (Jan.27)

This is Passport to Texas

The Great Backyard Bird Count provides citizens a chance 
to collect data to help researchers understand birds. 

15 -- You're basically counting all the birds you see at that spot 
on the planet; and the best part is it's in your backyard. You're 
starting to really pay attention to what birds are there in the 
wintertime. And, it's just a lot of fun - it's a learning experience 
for everybody.

TPW ornithologist, Cliff Shackelford, says the count, 
February 13 through 16, is like a snapshot of bird life.

08 -- You're counting both the number of species and the 
number of individuals per species. So, you're getting two 
different numbers. Both kinds of information are very valuable.

Register at birdcount.org or ebird.org. It's free. Cliff 
suggests doing your "homework" before getting started. 

20 -- Crack your field guide open and start learning what species 
are even possible for your area - which ones would be in big 
numbers and which ones might be something rarer that you 
would want to get a photograph of. So, if you had, say, a Rufus 
hummingbird in February that might be something you might 
want to get a picture of just in case.

By participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, and 
sharing your observations, you help expand the 
knowledge base of all ... in the fascinating world of birds.

That's our show ... Funding provided in part by Ram 
Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti. 






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