Volunteers needed to help with bird count

Riveredge Nature Center in the Town of Saukville is seeking people to help with its annual bird count on Saturday, Dec. 18.

Participants don’t count the birds at Riveredge but will count the birds in their yards for one hour in the morning, one hour in the afternoon or both times.

They can conduct the count indoors or outdoors.

Participants must live within a 15-mile radius of Riveredge bounded on the north by Huiras Lake, on the south by Cedarburg, the west by the West Bend airport and east at the Port Washington harbor.

Counters don’t need to be experienced.

The annual bird count is a nationwide effort to count all the resident birds during a 10-day period before or after Christmas.

Riveredge has been participating in the count since 1969. After the data is compiled, the information is submitted to the National Audubon Society and the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology.

Bird count data over time is used to provide insight into the long-term health of bird populations and the environment.

Anyone wishing to participate is asked to contact Mary Holleback at (262) 416-1224 or email mholleback@riveredge.us.