80,000 Volunteers Set Record Counting Birds

Today is Earth Day. Here’s some nature-related news to mark the occasion.

Good bird news

The Great Backyard Bird Count tallied more than 11 million birds across the United States and Canada in just four days in February.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society said the count logged 616 species.

More than 80,000 volunteers took part in the count – a third more than the previous record of 61,000 in 2000.

"There has never been a more detailed snapshot of continental bird distribution in history," said John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "It used to take scientists years to gather large-scale information about bird population and distribution, and the GBBC does it in just four days each year, thanks to a continent-wide community of birders reporting their counts online."

American Robins were most numerous. One participant in Florida counted more than 750,000 in one flock.

Rare birds included five Lesser Prairie-Chickens in Oklahoma and two Pink-footed Geese in Rhode Island, first-time records for the GBBC.

Visit www.birdcount.org for complete results.

Bad bird news

I hope someone collects this. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is offering $1,000 for information leading to the prosecution of people responsible for shooting two American bald eagles in Fulton County in January.

One, a mature bird, was recovered alive, but wounded. It died later undergoing care. The other, an immature bird, was found dead.

Federal laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Eagle Protection Act, and Illinois law protect bald eagles. Punishment can include fines, restitution and jail time.

Information will be kept in confidence. Call (217) 793-9554 or the Target Illinois Poachers Hotline at (877) 2DNRLAW (877-236- 7529).

National Wildlife Week

In addition to Earth Day, this week is designated as 2007 National Wildlife Week.

The National Wildlife Federation suggests the best ways to observe the occasion include choosing a service project to make a difference to the wildlife in your community.

How about helping to clean Constitution Trail or one of the other many parks in the area? How about picking up trash along a stream bank or building bird boxes?

Visit www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek.

Volunteer vacation

Here’s a chance to do your part. Shawnee National Forest will host a volunteer vacation from Oct. 7-12.

The Mississippi Bluffs Ranger District invites you to spend a portion of the most beautiful time of the year helping to improve the River to River Trail through the hardwood forests of the Bald Knob and Clear Springs Wilderness in southern Illinois.

Volunteers will experience Leave No Trace camping, Dutch oven cooking and building their skills with primitive hand tools. The wilderness experience includes camping accommodations, a limited field kitchen and rewarding days spent constructing new trails. Participants are responsible for their own food.

It’s not all work. Nightly entertainment is planned. Participants also will take a canoe trip on the Cache River Wetlands on Oct. 13.

Contact Kelly Pearson, district volunteer coordinator, or Jennifer Sublett, assistant volunteer coordinator, at (618) 687- 1731.

Oh deer

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has set up an online application system for 2007 resident firearm and muzzleloader-only deer season permits. DNR says it’s faster and more efficient to apply over the Internet.

Go to the IDNR Web site at http://dnr.state.il.us and use an American Express, Discover, Mastercard or Visa credit card or E- Check. Visitors can also use the online system to buy hunting, fishing and sportsman’s combination licenses, habitat stamps and other licenses and permits.

The application deadline for the Illinois Firearm and Muzzleloader-only Deer Season first lottery drawing is April 30. The 2007 Illinois firearm deer season is Nov. 16-18 and Nov. 29-Dec. 2. The 2007 muzzleloader-only deer season is Dec. 7-9.

Cold science

NOAA and other science teams from more than 60 countries will spend two years studying the polar ice caps in the largest internationally coordinated scientific research effort at the poles as part of the fourth International Polar Year from 2007-2009.

Expeditions and research projects will monitor the regions. Among the goals is a better understanding of how the ice caps impact global warming and how global warming impacts them.

Scott Richardson is Pantagraph outdoor editor. Phone (309) 820- 3227 or email srichardson@pantagraph.com Read past outdoor and fishing columns or take part in online discussions at www.pantagraph.com/blogs.

Read past outdoor and fishing columns or take part in online discussions at www.pantagraph.com/blogs