Help count birds at Wildlife Refuge
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News from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
NINEPIPE — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites you to spend a leisurely time helping count birds all the while sitting in your favorite lawn chair. Staff of the National Bison Range is sponsoring its first Big Sit! to be held at Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Based upon the concept of a “big day,” when birders race around counting all the birds they can see or hear within a very large area during 24-hour period, the Big Sit! is a bird-a-thon where people stay in one place and count all the birds that come to them. And it is all done from within a 17-foot diameter circle. Some people have referred to it as a “tailgate party for birders.”
Besides helping our biologists to determine what birds are in the area as well as which ones may be migrating through, we’ll have a variety of family-friendly activities going on throughout the day. We’ll give tips on how to focus binoculars, how to use a field guide, bird identification techniques and much more. We’ll also have some spotting scopes set up to get good views of the birds that come to visit us within our circle.
We invite bird experts, enthusiasts and beginners to join us. We’ll be set up at the old picnic site at Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge. The site is along Ninepipe Dam Road between Hwy 212 and Ninepipe Road. To detect nighttime birds – such as owls and migrators – we will start counting within the circle at 4 a.m. and continue through to 10 p.m. During the daylight hours, we’ll spot many of our local birds. Everyone is welcome to drop in at any time to help out for any amount of time but we particularly invite those who can identify birds by their calls to help out during our “nighttime” hours. And let us know if you’d like to help set up or take down.
We will have drinks (hot and cold as appropriate) and water available throughout the day and a few heaters set up to help us brave our unpredictable Montana weather. Participants should dress appropriately and bring a coffee mug, water bottle, binoculars, snacks, and, of course, your lawn chair. We will also provide a chili lunch (meat and vegetarian varieties) for those who register ahead of time. Register at our Facebook page, call the Refuge at (406) 644-2211 ext. 207, or email bisonrange@fws.gov. More details and maps can be found at the Bison Range Website at www.fws.gov/refuge/national_bison_range.
So, plan for a day of birdwatching and camaraderie. Instead of plopping yourself in front of a television set, come lounge with us in the great outdoors and enjoy the fresh air, the scenery, and the birds. We look forward to making our first Big Sit! a success and paving the way for future events.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
