Do you wish to go outside, meet new people, and discover the variety of wildlife Guthrie County has to offer?

This will all be experienced during the annual Christmas Bird Count happening at Springbrook State Park tomorrow. This count is one of thousands taking place across the western hemisphere as part of the 119th annual community science survey for the National Audubon Society. Birders of all ages and experience levels are invited to take part in the search done on foot and by vehicle.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Training Specialist Anne Riordan shares what makes this event special, “I think it’s so exciting to be a part of citizen science. We can rely just on reading about what other people, what ornithologists and other scientists have found out, or we can get out there, put our boots on and be a part of it. And that’s the exciting part and I get to introduce new people to this and just realize that what we do is a little piece that when we put all the pieces together, it’s really important.”

According to the National Audubon Society this annual count data is critical to understanding how birds are responding to a changing climate. There is no fee to participate, and attendees can meet at the park office at 7 a.m. Other birders can join later in the day as the group will have lunch and compare notes at PJ’s Drive-In in Panora at 11:30 a.m. The count will then continue through the afternoon and participants can return to the park office at 5 p.m. for compilation of bird numbers and chili. For more information contact Riordan at anne.riordan@dnr.iowa.gov or 641-295-6028.