Sandhills Birding

 

Bird counts in region

There are two active well-organized Christmas bird counts in the region (Sponsored by the National Audubon Society). Dates for Christmas counts are announced on the Carolina Birding listserv and on the Carolina Bird Club web site. Contact the organizers (information on right) if you'd like to receive email notification on a particular local count.

A spring count is held in Harnett county (Raven Rock) and Moore County.

If you can make a regular commitment then consider taking on a Breeding Bird Survey trail.

 

 

 

 

Butterflies and other critters

Birds are not the only species counted in this region. Both state parks hold butterfly counts. There is an amphibian count based on the breeding bird survey methodology as well. All data collected goes into state and national databases.

 

 

 

National counts

Two of the most well known national birding counts are Project Feederwatch and the Great Backyard Bird Count . Through the Internet you can actually watch national maps change as individuals enter their results for these count programs.

 

 

 

Fun counts

Birders have all kinds of personal counts: yard lists, county lists, year lists, birds heard on movie sound tracks, etc. If you are interested in comparing your personal lists to those of others one option is to join the American Birding Association.

There are also fun counts called Big Sits!. On a big sit one or more individuals select a location and then they literally SIT there for as long as they can that day and count whatever birds come by.

Bird Watcher's Digest information on Big Sits -- rules and prose

 

 

 

Upcoming counts

Great Backyard Bird Count -- February 16-19, 2007
Raven Rock spring count -- April 28, 2007
Moore County spring count -- April 29, 2007
North American butterfly association count at Raven Rock -- August 21
Official Big Sit! -- second Sunday in October