It’s a quiet hobby, but it’s also a phenomenon.
Bird watching and bird counting may seem like an activity for someone who has time to walk through the woods or sit near the bird feeder, but when programs like Backyard Bird Count come around each year, bird watching and counting become something that is accessible to everyone.
On Feb. 18, while students are out of school, the Homer Lake Interpretive Center will host its annual Backyard Bird Count from 1 to 5 p.m.
Falling on the last day of the nationwide Great Backyard Bird Count, which runs from Feb. 15-18, bird watchers of all ages count birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are located.
The staff at Homer Lake will give guests an up-close look at native birds, such as cardinals, morning doves, blue jays and woodpeckers, who live in the area year round and ones that migrate, such as junco and white-crowned sparrows, to Central Illinois for winter time.
As citizens report the data, scientists use it to track trends about where birds are, how many are migrating south, and population numbers throughout the United States.
Assistant Museum & Education Director Pam Leiter said the event is one that opens up the world for her.
“I feel connected to the larger picture where these migrating birds are coming down after spending the summer in Canada or maybe as far north as Alaska,” Leiter said. “They’ve had their whole experience there during the summer time and they come down here for the winter, and it’s really cool to see them and think about how we are connected across the world in that way.”
Leiter said the bird count is also important because the changes in bird populations and locations give scientists insight into the climate and society.
Homer Lake’s bird count will be an open house event where children can do crafts and guests of all ages view different species of birds at the feeders. Weather permitting, researchers will be at the event to band birds so that scientists can track their activity throughout the year.
Guests will have an opportunity to see the process and get up close to the birds.
“Adults will come out because they’ve never seen birds up close in that way,” Leiter said.
But for kids, especially, the phenomenon comes to life.
“Their connection with nature and their wonder of the world, when they are young like that, it’s good to get them connected and understanding other creatures of the world, building empathy for them, which then translates into empathy for other humans, as well.
“Any time we can help people understand their connections to other creatures that live in this world and the people who are living around them, as well, I think it makes society better.”
