109th Christmas Bird Count December 26, 2008

Join tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas, taking part in an adventure that has become a family tradition across generations. As in years past, the Heard Natural Science Museum will host the Christmas Bird Count the day after Christmas for the Collin County area. The Christmas Bird Count is an opportunity for a new birder to go out with more experienced birders and learn. Started in 1900 by Frank Chapman, the Christmas Bird Count is the oldest citizen science event in the world. It is also the largest, growing from the original 27 observers doing 25 counts to about 2000 counts and over 50,000 participants! The objective of the Count is to monitor the status and distribution of bird populations. The Count has proven vital for conservation, indicating local trends like habitat fragmentation or an environmental threat. A hot lunch to ward off the chills will be provided. There is a $5 registration fee to National Audubon. We hope to see you there! For more information: www.heardmuseum.org

Official Website: http://www.heardmuseum.org