By Jean Zirnhelt | Weminuche Audubon Society
Members of the Weminuche Audubon Society chapter are inviting you to help us count birds in this 123rd annual census of winter birds. You don’t need to be an experienced birder; we welcome participation from all interested community members and visitors.
Volunteer help is critical to the success of this annual event.
On Saturday, Dec. 17, we will join team members to record all of the birds that we identify by sight or sound in our local count circle, following protocols established by the National Audubon Society. Be a part of this important endeavor carried out by people just like you all across the Western Hemisphere.
The Pagosa Springs count is conducted within a 15-mile diameter circle, divided into eight zones and centered on Trujillo Road near downtown. Areas covered include town, about 6 miles east, most of Pagosa Lakes including Meadows subdivisions, west to Elk Park, Alpha, Rockridge, Timber Ridge, Mill Creek and Holiday Acres areas, Snowball, Cemetery and the first part of Fourmile Road, Loma Linda, south to the Lower Blanco area, Trujillo Road to Burns Canyon and areas in between. It’s a lot of ground to cover in one day.
If you live within the count circle, you can also participate by counting birds at your feeders using the forms provided or let us know that we are welcome to stop by and tally what we see in your yard.
For further information on the count or to sign up as a volunteer, email us at weminuche.audubon@gmail.com. We invite you to join us for our final bird identification class before the count on Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. Class details can be found on our website, weminucheaudubon.org.
