A red tailed hawk sits on the top rail of a fence on the Gettysburg battlefield/NPS
Many national parks, whether they offer scenery, history, or culture, protect wonderful natural settings, which in turn attract both human and feathered visitors. At Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania, the lure of open fields and wooded areas attracts many bird species, and an outing on February 15 will be geared towards counting how many species are in the park.
The walk, held with help from the South Mountain Audubon Society, will be across the Emmanuel Harman farm, a battlefield site that is the former Gettysburg Country Club. Those planning to attend should park and meet at 9 a.m. by the tennis courts/outdoor pool complex at 730 Chambersburg Road, just west of Gettysburg. Easiest access to this parking lot is from Country Club Lane.
The hike will be about one-and-a-half miles in length over flat terrain. Wildlife specialists will offer information and help with identification of birds wintering in the Gettysburg area.
Birders of all levels are welcome. Bring binoculars and guide books if you have them. Be prepared for winter conditions and dress appropriately. In case of rain or snow the walk will be postponed to the following day, February 16 at the same time and location.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a nationwide, free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at gbbc.birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.
Data from this event will help scientists gain a better understanding of the distribution and abundance of birds. Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share.
Comments
While hiking with my daughter today on the Battlefields today, we spotted two of these "birds" on the trail between the General Reynolds marker and the North Carolina stone monument (not the really large monument on Semindary Ridge). The picture only shows one as the other was tucked back inside what I could only imagine to be a nest or hiding spot of some sort. It's head is appeared to be turned looking to his left. Both were standing very close to the ground. It was aproximately noon when we spotted them. Feel free to contact me for more info...I'd love to know what kind of Owl this might [email protected]