Killdeer on a nest in the gravel. Camouflaged eggs are difficult to see.
Many eyes help in finding and counting birds. That was especially important on Saturday, May 12. That day was the annual Pennsylvania Migration Count, a part of the annual North American Migration Count. On count day every year, volunteers across the country spend time counting numbers and species of birds. Some birds are newly returned from their wintering grounds. Other birds returned earlier in the spring and are courting and choosing nesting sites. Still other birds that are year round residents are already nesting. The count in and around Montour Preserve included a bird walk for the public. After all, many sets of eyes are better than a single pair. After the walk was over, two of us continued the count. The grand total for the day was 371 birds of 62 different species. These included common birds like American robins, eastern bluebirds, blue jays and chickadees as well as more rare species like bald eagles and peregrine falcons. This survey provides scientists with a snapshot in time of bird populations and where they are found that can be compared with similar snapshots from previous years. This information will give scientists an idea of what is happening with the birds.
