All Over Albany

Pine Bush Big Birding Day

It's not any regular birding day. It's a big birding day.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is hosting the first Pine Bush Big Birding Day starting June 30, an event in which teams will try to observe as many bird species as possible over a 24-hour period. Blurbage:

"A big birding day allows the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission to learn what species of birds are in the preserve. Detecting birds this time of year also suggests that those birds may be breeding here," says Amanda Dillon, Field Ecologist and Entomologist. "Commission staff regularly conduct surveys during the summer months where we record every bird we hear and see at points located around the preserve. This event will help us get more eyes and ears on the ground and expand our coverage area. Birds are very sensitive to changes in their habitat and some can only be found in particular types of habitats like the inland pitch pine-scrub oak barrens found the in the Albany Pine Bush. Knowing which species are present in the preserve tells us a lot about how effective our efforts are in restoring this globally rare landscape."

The bird species spotting starts at 6 pm Saturday with a kick-off and refreshments at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. And then things wrap up Saturday at 7 pm with dinner and closing ceremony. It's free to participate, but registration is required.

Earlier: Birding in Washington Park

photo: Julie Madsen