lakeshore bird count

[Francke]

A handful of birders in west MI started a Lakeshore Bird Count with the first count held 9/3/07.  The purpose of the count is to get a "snapshot" of bird (mostly waterbird) migration along the Lake Michigan shoreline on each count date.  Counters basically choose a location along the shoreline and keep track of species and numbers of individuals by hour at each site.  The first count was 2 hours and the next count which is 10/13 will be 4 hours (8 am-noon).  Using cell phones, counters can alert others along the lake of unusual sightings.  This worked well on 9/3 when a parasitic jaeger was followed from Grand Haven to Douglas and seen by counters at several locations in between.  

If anyone is interested in participating as a counter, let me know and I'll contact you with more information.  For anyone that is interested that doesn't feel they have enough waterbird experience to be a counter, you may also participate by assisting counters in locating birds.

Contact me at francke at charter.net for more details.


Chip Francke  
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