Greetings!  On behalf of the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia,
I'd like to invite you to participate in the 11th Annual C & O Canal Count
Midwinter Bird Survey.
Usually, this count would fall on this weekend, but with the Inauguration,
it seemed like a much better idea to hold it on Saturday, Jan. 24 (snow date
is Jan. 25).

This count is an annual bird count covering the entire length of the C & O
Canal beginning at mile 0 in Georgetown and covering every mile out to
Cumberland, MD at mile 184.5.  We think it is the longest count on record in
miles.  We are able to accomplish this feat thought the help of birders just
like you going out and walking a few miles counting all the birds you see
and hear in your assigned mile(s) and keeping track of them on a tally
sheet.  We count between the mile posts on the Canal and keep a separate
tally sheet for each mile so we can track the bird numbers in the same miles
over the years.  The habitat usually has visible water on both sides with
the Potomac on one side and the canal on the other while you walk on the tow
path and the forested tracks between.
DC Audubon has upgraded our reporting system for the count, so when you are
done, you can log in and just fill in the blanks on line for the number and
species of birds you observe. Check out past observations and more details
here - http://www.dcaudubon.org/canal2009

Our count has been successful for many years thanks to many of you who
subscribe to this list and show up and take the same reliable miles every
year.  THANK YOU!
We need birders of all skills to help us out (beginners need not be shy),
but we really appreciate some experienced birders to lead.  We still have
some miles open for the count, so if this sounds interesting to you, please
get in touch with us.

A brief word about the 2008 survey: Counters recorded 86 species and 17,533
individuals.  Both are about average compared to previous surveys.  We
recorded two new species for the year: Chipping Sparrow and Evening
Grosbeak.  Other highlights included Horned Grebe, Tundra Swan, Golden
Eagle, Red-headed Woodpecker, and White-crowned Sparrow.  It was the first
year since 2000 that counters recorded all three likely owl species.

If you've read this much, then you must be seriously interested, so how to
get involved?
1. Contact us and let us know your interest at 
2. We'll email you back with miles that are available, sometimes it is
helpful to have two birders with two cars to cut down on backtracking your
miles.
3. Look at this very helpful map to figure out the access points for your
miles - http://bikewashington.org/canal/canal_a.php
4. Prepare to count.  Dress for the weather.  I personally LOVE the little
chemical hand warmer pouches you can buy at discount, Home Depot or sporting
goods stores for your hands and toes!  Don't forget to print out your map,
tally sheets for each mile, get a pencil or two and  a clipboard is very
helpful.
5. Count day - go count some birds.
6. Day after the count, input your data via our web site.
-- 
Denise Ryan
Cheverly, MD