Sunday, February 16, 7:45am-12pm
Río Laja, near Cieniguita and the bridge to Guanajuato
Free (Members), $200 / $10 USD (Non-members)

Audubon Birdwalk and Great Backyard Bird Count

Join the Audubon Birdwalk and Great Backyard Bird Count

By Signe Hammer

Come help count the world's birds! Join the Audubon birdwalk on Sunday morning. Or count birds in your own yard or local park anytime today (Friday) through Monday. Or do both!

Why count? The Great Backyard Bird Count provides an annual snapshot of the worldwide distribution and abundance of birds. Over time (20+ years and counting) these snapshots help scientists who monitor the health of bird populations around the world answer such questions as how climate change is affecting those populations. Their conclusions, in turn, can help us protect these beautiful creatures and the environment we share with them.

Last year, a record 225,000 people joined the four-day count, reporting a record 6,699 species, more than half the world's known total. Mexico alone reported 755 different species, well ahead of the US.

Join the Audubon birdwalk: On Sunday, we'll walk with leaders Luke Rich, Michael Burns and Signe Hammer along the Rio Laja, near Cieniguita and the bridge to Guanajuato. The varied habitat includes a wooded river trail, farmland with big trees, and open sky for raptors.

Everyone is welcome to join this birdwalk, from beginners to experienced birders. Adults and children (aged 10 and up, with their parents) alike will enjoy seeing the birds, and many will want to help count them.

Wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and bring water and a hat. We'll have our Audubon de México bird guide, Birds of San Miguel—with 81 species commonly found in the San Miguel area—for sale. Our guides carry telescopes so that everyone can see distant birds clearly, and we'll also have a few pairs of binoculars to lend.

Carpooling is essential, so if you have a car, please bring it. Plan to arrive at 7:45, as we leave promptly at 8. You'll be back by noon, with new entries for your life list and new birding friends.

Count birds in your own backyard Friday to Monday, February 14-17. If you are familiar with our local birds, you can count the birds in your own back (or front) yard or local park. Spend as little as 15 minutes or as long as you like on any or all of the four days. To avoid double-counting, try standing in one spot and recording the number of each species you see. Keep a record each time you count—with the date, your start time and total time, your name and your birdwatching-location address. Send your count lists to audubondemexico@gmail.com.

Meets in front of Instituto Allende, Ancha de San Antonio 20

Signe Hammer, 415-111-7638 / +1-917-478-5379

Members free, non-members 200 pesos or US $10

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