ILLINOIS BIRD COUNTERS HEAD FOR THE WILDS

ULLIN, Ill. -- Bird counters head for the wilds Friday.

Illinois birders will participate in the 100th Christmas Bird Count, Dec. 17-Jan. 3, with the Cypress Creek site first on the list.

The annual Christmas bird count was started in December of 1900, when 27 conservationists organized to protest the traditional "bird shoot" that preceded legal protection of migratory birds. The conservationists decided to count the birds instead of killing them on Christmas Day.

Data from the counts helps determine changes and trends in bird populations across the nation. Data collected is sent to the National Audubon Society headquarters in New York.

Bird watchers at all levels of expertise participate in the annual event, said Jean Hinkle, a spokesperson for the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge.

About 25 to 30 bird watchers will meet at 5:30 a.m. at Shawnee Community College, said Hinkle though some "early birds" will be in place as early as 5. "We call them the owlers," she said.

Ninty-eight different species were found during the count last year, said Hinkle. "That included eagles, barn owls, cardinals, hawks, and two loggerhead shrikes, which are on the endangered list."

Following the day-long count, participants will meet back at the college for the final tally.

Jeff Hoover, of the University of Illinois, will serve as "compiler" this year. Also participating in the count will be Scott Robinson, also of UI, and an writer for National Geographic.

The Cypress Creek Christmas bird count is the first of more than 1,700 counts conducted through Jan. 3. More than 50,000 bird watchers in 50 states, Canada and South America participate in the annual count, coordinated by the National Audubon Society. This is the 100th year for the annual count.

Each group counts birds in a 24-hour period within a circle of 15 miles in diameter. That circle is divided into sectors patrolled by smaller groups within the group.

Many of the bird counters are on foot. Some travel their sector by car, stopping along gravel roads to get out and search surrounding trees with binoculars.

Other counts have already been scheduled in Southern Illinois. Two counts are scheduled Saturday, at Crab Orchard Lake near Carbondale and at Rend Lake.

Counts will be conducted in Alexander and Union Counties Dec. 28-29.

The Alexander County count will center around Horseshoe Lake Refuge, at Olive Branch.

The Union County count will be centered at the intersection of Route 146-Route 3, at Ware early Dec. 29. Other hunts are scheduled at Mermet Lake near Metropolis and Jackson County near Murphysboro.

Southeast Missouri

The Four Seasons Audubon Society of Southeast Missouri participates in several bird counts during the year, including Poplar Bluff, Mingo Wildlife Refuge at Puxico, Trail of Tears State Park north of Cape Girardeau and Big Oak Tree State Park near Charleston.

The Big Oak Tree count is set Dec., 21, with participants to meet at 6 a.m. at Boomland at the Charleston exit off Interstate 57. Other dates are at 6 a.m. at Trail of Tears Park, Dec. 29, starting at the visitor center parking lot. Participants in the Jan. 2 Mingo Count should meet at 6 a.m. at the Puxico Restaurant.

The Mingo Refuge count is a popular one with bird counters. Counters found 99 species in 1997 and more than 100 last year. One of the unusual species at Mingo was the blue-gray gnatcatcher.

FOR THE BIRDS

Additional information concerning the local Audubon group's activities is available by contracting Bill Eddleman, telephone 335-2364, or 335-1507.