Audubon Florida Staff Members Celebrate the Great Backyard Bird Count

Again yards in Florida vary from grassy fenced suburbs to sandy seaside views, screened swimming pools to oak-shaded forests, and all of them could be good locations to identify birds. The Nice Yard Chicken Depend (GBBC), hosted every February by Audubon in partnership with Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, is a chance for anybody, wherever to take part in group science by merely going exterior and counting birds for a minimum of quarter-hour. Scientists in any respect three organizations use the information collected, by way of submissions within the eBird app, to check how chicken populations have modified over the course of a few years, which elements of the hemisphere are most important for chicken conservation, and way more.

For many individuals, together with a number of Audubon Florida workers members, the Nice Yard Chicken Depend is a enjoyable late winter custom. This yr’s depend was held February 13-16, and Audubon Florida staffers had been excited to share their sightings from wherever they had been this weekend.

Shorebird Biologist Zach Matchinski didn’t spend GBBC weekend in his personal again yard within the Panhandle, as a substitute crossing state strains for a go to to Wheeler Nationwide Wildlife Refuge in Alabama. The refuge is the location of the annual Pageant of the Cranes every January, and as anticipated, he got here away with a number of crane sightings. He additionally logged Northern Shovelers, a White-throated Sparrow, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a Northern Cardinal.

Government Director Julie Wraithmell and Communications Director Erika Zambello had been touring by means of Ocala Nationwide Forest, among the best remaining examples of the scrub habitat that Florida Scrub-Jays depend on, and had been rewarded with a sighting of this elusive species.

Senior Coordinator of Shorebird Stewardship Brian Cammarano stayed nearer to residence this weekend, strolling only a few blocks from his home within the Panhandle to a brand new parklet with a boardwalk overlooking a wetland. There, he noticed a Northern Home Wren.

In Southwest Florida, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Director Keith Laakkonen noticed a Broad-winged Hawk resting in a tree in his again yard. This species is rare in Florida: sometimes discovered within the northern area throughout the breeding season, it generally spends winters in southern Florida.

Among the finest elements concerning the GBBC is that it highlights the simplicity of birding: It may occur wherever, with little to no preparation, and for as quick or lengthy as you’ve obtainable. Communications Affiliate Karina Jiménez spent Saturday at an outside buying middle in Orlando, the place she recorded half a dozen Frequent Grackles and a pair of White Ibises.

A wrap-up of birding in Florida wouldn’t be full with no record from an out-of-towner. A Nationwide Audubon Society workers member was visiting South Florida over the lengthy weekend and managed to assemble an thrilling record, together with a Sora, Pink-winged Blackbird, Wooden Storks, Wilson’s Snipe, Double-crested Cormorant, Purple Gallinule, Nice Blue Heron, and even a putting (if invasive) Egyptian Goose.

It’s at all times time for birding within the Sunshine State, however birding for science? Depend us in.