By Staff
To the editor:
Calling all Brewton bird enthusiasts! It's time for the sixth annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) on Feb. 14-17.
Begun in 1998, the GBBC has become an important means of gathering data to help birds. The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology call on volunteers of every age to participate in the GBBC.
Instructions can be found at www.birdsource.org on the Internet. There are no fees or registration. In 2002, more than 47,000 participants counted millions of birds throughout North America. Volunteers count the numbers and kinds of birds that visit their local feeders during any or all of the four count days. Participants enter their sightings at www.birdsource.org/gbbc daily.
Birders add to our local economy. Just ask any local store that carries thistle seed how quickly they sell out of seed while the goldfinches are here in Escambia County. The goldfinches' changing plumage is a site to behold.
Brewton continues to be a haven for winter hummingbirds as well. Fred Bassett, master bird bander for the Hummingbird Study Group, has made four trips to Brewton this winter to band rare winter hummingbirds.
Amidst the cold temperatures of February, it's a wonderful activity to sit back and observe the creatures God has blessed us with in Escambia County. At the same time, the data collected helps protect America's birds and their habitat. This is a way for you to help protect our great natural heritage.
Ann Biggs-Williams
Brewton