Greetings Friends!


On Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011, the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia
will be hosting our 13th Annual Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical
Park Midwinter Bird Count covering all of the miles Park from mile 0 in
Georgetown up to mile 184.5 in Cumberland, MD. It is the longest bird count
in the country – geographically speaking.  We are grateful for the many
volunteers that take the same miles year after year, as they really make
this effort possible.  However, we do have a few open miles that need
coverage.



Here are the miles that we know are currently open as their previous
counters are unable to volunteer this year.



Help on mile 4

7, 8 and 9 - Glen Echo area of MD

136-139 might be open and this is the border of Washington-Allegany Counties

140-153 various miles may be open here too

As miles open up or change I can update the list or individuals.



You can go and count your birds any time on the day of Jan. 22. (The weekend
after Martin Luther King Holiday) Jan. 23 is our bad weather day in case of
ice or bad snow.  I also like this web site so you can see what to expect
mile by mile and how to access the miles.  Some places a car at both ends
isn't likely and backtracking is the only way to go. *
http://bikewashington.org/canal/* <http://bikewashington.org/canal/> Or,
you'll have more miles to cover that you are not counting and will just have
to walk an not count to get a few more miles out to another access point.  I
know this is a drag - I've been there and done it many times, but that is a
part of the challenge of getting full coverage for all of the many miles of
this most unusal count.



You can see the data from previous years at *http://www.dcaudubon.org/canal.
* <http://www.dcaudubon.org/canal.>



If you are unfamiliar with how all of this works, it is best if you are an
experienced counter, but we also have section leaders that are willing to
take new birders.  We are always looking to train new people and the next
generation – bring your birding children!  This works much like the
Christmas counts, except we break out the count mile by mile on separate
forms or sheets.



For example, if you were to volunteer for mile 7, 8 and 9, then you would
start at Mile 7 on the canal.  Each mile is marked by a wooden marker on the
tow path along the canal.  Look for mile 7 and begin counting the number and
species of each bird seen or heard between mile 7 to mile 8.  Then begin a
new tally sheet for mile 8 to mile 9, and another new sheet for mile 9 to
10.  We count the birds on the Potomac which is easy to scan from most
places on the towpath or nearby grounds, and birds in the trees, scrub and
grasses along the tow path as well.



If you would like to sign up to take some miles - please send us an email at
** <>



Thank you for your interest.  Good birding and hoping for good weather!



Denise Ryan, Treasurer Audubon Society of the District of Columbia

Cheverly, MD