Countdown to the Christmas Bird CountPhoto/text By Renee Burrell
Migratory birds found huge perches along the Belleair Beach Causeway this year Florida and especially Pinellas County with its three coastlines is known for playing host to not just the nearly 500 resident birds but to hundreds of types of migratory birds, some of which are endangered. Birds refuel in the County's fresh ponds and salt water habitats and mangroves. Bird watchers and avian photographers flock to Pinellas along with them to take advantage of the bird watching and photo opportunities. But anyone can join the Annual Christmas Bird Count which began over a century ago and relies on volunteer citizens to play scientist for a day. Each year volunteers and professionals team up to count the number of individual birds within each species seen on the same date in the same place. The count compiles data that can be compared and used to measure the effects that changes in the environment have had on the bird population. The Annual Christmas Bird Count in our Clearwater area circle takes place throughout the day on Sunday, December 21, 2008. Volunteers are needed. If interested, contact Merle Hubbard, at 727-939-1549.
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