This Presidents Day weekend, February 12 through 15, people across North America are invited to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. People of all ages, and all levels of bird-watching are welcome to look at the birds in their backyards and report them over the Internet. You may also mail your forms to Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This is the thirteenth year of the popular event, hosted by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited store owners. By participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, you can help researchers better understand bird population numbers and distribution across the continent. A “backyard” can be anywhere you happen to be, a schoolyard, a local park, or our own Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

Visit www.birdcount.org for instructions or you can call the Iroquois NWR (585-948-5445) for more information. Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count takes as little or as much time as participants wish; the important thing is to just take part, count for the birds, and enjoy North America�^TMs Great Backyard.

An important part of North America�^TMs Great Backyard is the 730 million acres of land held in trust by Federal agencies. One of those agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, manages the Iroquois NWR, headquartered in Alabama, NY. In addition to reporting the birds you see in your own backyard, the staff of the Refuge encourage you to include a visit to the Refuge to count the birds and enjoy the special places there. Although the Great Backyard Bird Count takes place during just four days in February, refuge lands are important areas for birds at all times of the year. Iroquois NWR is an important breeding area, stopover site, and winter residence for birds. The Refuge has been designated as an Important Bird Area.

Iroquois NWR is located in Shelby and Alabama, NY and is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.