(submitted)
A national conservation agency wants you to count birds this long weekend.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada is encouraging volunteers to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Andrew Holland, national media relations director for the organization, said it’s a great weekend to participate.
“It’s a valuable weekend to try and get a handle on bird populations and trends and it’s a great way for people to identify birds that may be in our communities,” he said.
Holland said this event is an important part of a global effort to get a handle on bird populations and their health, organized by Birds Canada.
“From a Canadian and North American perspective, we’ve lost 3 billion birds since 1970. Bird populations have really diminished and it’s something we should all be quite concerned about,” he said.
Holland said wetland birds are on the decline, and maintaining habitats is a priority, but the count itself can take place anywhere.
“It’s also a weekend to go out and put on some boots and a jacket and see what kind of birds are trying to hack our tough winter climate,” he said.
Volunteers can log any birding counts online.
