This year’s Iowa City Christmas Bird Count will be held Sunday, December 17.  We need participants in the field as well as feeder watchers.  If you wish to be a field participant, you will be assigned to a small group with an experienced leader, and your leader will contact you to coordinate a meeting time and place on the day of the count.  You can participate for part or all of the day, and some groups look for owls before dawn.  Most groups spend some time hiking outdoors and some time birding from the car, so you will need to dress for the weather.

 On count day, we will meet at noon for an optional mid-day compilation – please note the NEW LOCATION in Meeting Room A at the Coralville Public Library, 1401 5th Street.  Please park in the lower level.  Bring your own lunch.  We will not have an evening meal and compilation this year.  

 If you wish to be a feeder watcher, you can count the birds at your feeders and in your yard.    I’ll need your address in order to verify that you live in the count circle, which includes most of the Coralville Reservoir, Lake Macbride, Solon, North Liberty, Tiffin, Coralville, and the northwest portion of Iowa City.  If you have any friends or neighbors who may want to participate, please pass this information along to them.

To participate, please contact me ASAP by email (preferred) at credwards@aol.com or by phone or text at 319-430-4732.  The sign-up deadline is Wednesday, December 13, but it is very helpful if you let me know sooner.  I’ll need to know if you want to participate in the field or as a feeder watcher.  Thanks!

 Chris Edwards