Small Scopes

Bird survey on Martha's Vineyard

"The Martha's Vineyard Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is being conducted today, the final Thursday of 2005. If you happened to pick up the paper before quitting time and glanced at this column, it may help the explain several groups of people you may have encountered, all bundled up and using binoculars and carrying spotting scopes. Forgive them at this season if they were parked less than perfectly; they probably spotted a bird in a treetop and wanted to keep an eye on it as they departed the vehicle. Those were some of the participants in today's attempt to count every single bird of every species on the Island."

"The CBC is a 24-hour day, so should people be foolish enough they could begin birding at midnight, attempting to locate nocturnal owls by sound. Typically on the Vineyard CBC, up to a dozen observers do go owling — but not starting at midnight. A 4 am wake-up is sufficient punishment to provide for plenty of time to stumble around in the freezing darkness trying to hear above the wind in the trees."

posted by Tako John @ 9:31 AM