Sac County Conservation invites everyone out to Hagge Park this Saturday for the annual Christmas bird count event. Every year from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5, locations are requested and selected by the National Audubon Society to collect data to help scientist better understand about birds located in the specific area. Sac County Conservation Naturalist Dakota Popp says this is the 125th year for Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count and there is a bird circle placed in Sac County this year.
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The 15-mile radius circle includes the cities of Auburn, Lake View and Grant City. Anyone living in those communities can watch for birds at their homes, but individuals living outside the designated area are welcome to come and join Popp at Hagge Park south of Sac City.
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Popp says the Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count helps scientist be able to receive data that they themselves cannot always go out and find. Due to staffing and funding restraints, its difficult to be in many places to track birds. Popp says that is where the volunteers can step up and help.
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Again, anyone interested in joining Sac County Conservation for the Christmas Bird Count is welcome to join Popp at 9 a.m. at Hagge Park. She suggests dressing for the weather, wear comfortable shoes, bring binoculars if able to and to bring a smart phone to download the Audubon’s Merlin Bird ID app to help identify birds viewed.