Folly Beach Mayor Responds

In case you missed the letter to the editor in today's Post and Courier, the mayor of Folly Beach responded to the previously-published image of dogs chasing birds on the beach. We commented on the subject in an earlier blog entry.

While on the topic of bird conservation, it is a good time to remind everyone that the Great Backyard Bird Count is less than a month away! Make plans now to be a part of a continent-wide citizen-science effort! Remember, you do NOT need to be an expert birder. There are even tips on how to involve groups and students.

Image by Mark Musselman

[from the GBBC page]

IT’S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3!

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you're likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number of each species you see on this checklist.

3. When you're finished, enter your results through our web page. You'll see a button marked "Enter Your Checklists!" on the website home page beginning on the first day of the count. It will remain active until the deadline for data submission on March 1st.