Death Valley hosts bird count

This year the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) for Death Valley National Park will take place Jan. 4. People can experience the diversity of habitats and birds in the Death Valley/Furnace Creek area.

The public is invited to participate in this count and all skill levels are welcome. For beginners, this is a great opportunity to learn about birds in the area, get identification tips and meet others interested in desert environments.

There is no fee for participants of the CBC count.

Dress in layers, bring hat and sunscreen, water and snacks/lunch, and binoculars if you have them.

Please meet at 7 a.m. at the Furnace Creek Golf Course parking lot. Participants don’t need to commit to entire day, but must be there at 7 a.m. Contact Linda Manning 760-786-3252 or linda_manning@nps.gov.

Food and lodging are available in Death Valley, Shoshone, Stateline (Longstreet), Death Valley Junction and Pahrump.

The data collected by the CBC participants over the past century allows researchers, conservation biologists and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past 100 years. The long-term perspective made possible by the Christmas Bird Count is vital for conservationists.

It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well.

It’s a fun day to be outdoors, learn about local and migratory bird species, and meet new people.