Newspaper Page Text
February 7,2018
Page 3B
^Reporter
MONROE OUTDOORS by Terry W. Johnson
Give 15 minutes to help science
F or four days
(Feb. 17-20),
thousands
of people
throughout
the world will become
citizen scientists. They
will be tak
ing time out
of their busy
schedules
to partici
pate in the
2018 Great
Backyard
Bird Count.
The name
of the count
is actually a
misnomer.
Although
many people count the
birds they spot in their
backyards, others count
birds anywhere they find
them whether it be on
a wildlife management
area, along a city street,
in a park, or on a farm.
What I like about the
count is that, folks of all
ages and skill levels can
take part. The count is
also a lot of fun, doesn’t
cost a dime, and can take
as little as 15 minutes of
your time.
If that, isn’t, enough,
the data you collect, will
assist biologists with
the Cornell University
School of Ornithology
and National Audubon
Society to learn more
about, the world’s bird
population. As
such, this data
helps them
monitor how
the winter dis
tributions and
movements
of many birds
are changing.
For exam
ple, in 2017
the eastern
United States
enjoyed one
of the warmest, winters
on record. Apparently, in
response to these warm
temperatures, some spe
cies, such as red-winged
blackbirds and common
grackles began their
northward migration ear
lier than normal.
In addition, with many
lakes in the northern
United States remain
ing ice-free, thousands
of waterfowl and other
waterbirds did not. move
as far south as they nor
mally would. In addition,
tree swallows wintered as
far north as Long Island.
Since the 20-year-old
GBBC went, global five
years ago, the scope of
this survey is mind-bog
gling. For example, last,
year 214,018 participants
living in more than 140
countries ranging from
Armenia to Zimbabwe
spotted 5,940 species.
Some 671 species were
seen in the United States
alone.
The list, of the birds
most, frequently reported
on checklists submitted
from the United States
during the 2017 GBBC
were northern cardinal
(52,422), American crow
(47,275), mourning dove
(47,076), dark-eyed junco
(42,208), downy wood
pecker (38,760), blue jay
(38,402), black-capped
chickadee (36,417),
house finch (35,889), and
white-breasted nuthatch
(32,598).
A total of 210 species
were reported in Georgia
on the 2017 GBBC,
Locally, 66 species were
seen in Monroe County.
Out. of our neighboring
Although it was not in the
nine most frequently seen
birds in the U.S. Great Back
yard Bird Count last year, it
is one of the most beautiful
birds you can see in Monroe
County if you join the Count.
(Photo/Terry Johnson)
counties, we were out
done only by the volun
teers in Bibb; they tallied
97 species. Here is how
the other counties fared:
Lamar (45), Jones (43),
and Crawford (13).
If you would like to join
the growing army of folks
taking part, in the GBBC,
Terry W. Johnson
Spring Monroe rec baseball/softball sign-ups to end on Fri., Feb. 16
The Monroe County
Recreation Department,
will continue registration
for spring baseball and
fast, pitch softball through
Friday, Feb. 16.
The cost, of registra
tion starts at. $30 with
an additional $10 fee for
out-of-town participants.
Persons can register
online at. mocorec.org.
Age groups will include:
Tiny Tots T-Ball - 3-4
year-olds co-ed, T-Ball
Baseball - 5-6-year-
old co-ed and Baseball/
Softball - 7-12 year-olds.
Baseball ages are as of
May 1, 2018 while soft-
ball ages are as of Jan. 1,
2018.
Parents will need to
provide: a glove, a hel
met. with a mask, cleats
and pants. Parents
should check with their
coaches first, to see what,
color their child’s team
will want, before buying
pants.
Tentative dates for
the spring rec baseball
season include: Baseball
Coaches Meeting on
Tuesday, Feb. 20 at.
7 p.m.; Baseball 8U
Assessments (Staff) on
Saturday, Feb. 24 at.
11 a.m., Baseball 10U
Assessments (Coaches)
on Saturday, Feb. 24 at.
1 p.m.; Baseball 12U
Assessments (Coaches)
on Saturday, Feb. 24 at.
2 p.m.; Practice Starts
(includes 6U and T-Ball)
on Monday, Feb. 26;
Opening Day Ceremony
(ages 5-12 only) on
Saturday, March 24; First.
Game (includes 6U and
T-Ball) on Monday, March
26; Last. Day of Season on
Tuesday, May 22.
Tentative dates for the
spring Tiny Tots sea
son include: Tiny Tots
Selections (Rec Staff) on
Monday, March 19; Tiny
Tots Practice Starts on
Tuesday, March 20; Tiny
Tots Season Opening
Day on Tuesday, April 10;
Tiny Tots End of Season
on Saturday, May 26.
Tentative dates for the
spring softball season
include: Tiny Tots, T-Ball
and Softball Coaches
Meeting on Tuesday, Feb.
20 at. 6 p.m.; Softball 9U
Assessments (Staff) on
Friday, Feb. 23 at. 6 p.m.;
Softball 12U Assessments
(Coaches) on Friday, Feb.
23 at. 7 p.m.; Practice
Starts on Monday,
Feb. 26; Opening Day
Ceremony (ages 5-12
only) on Saturday,
March 24; First. Game
on Tuesday, March 27;
Last. Day of Season on
Tuesday, May 22.
Anyone with ques
tions please feel free to
call the Monroe County
Recreation Department,
at. (478) 994-7795 or visit,
the website at. mocorec.
org.
(and have fun)
the first, thing you need
to do is to select, an area
where you want, to con
duct. your count.. You are
the one who determines
how much area you will
cover. You can survey the
whole county, Forsyth,
Culloden, High Falls,
Smarr, your neighbor
hood, or just your back
yard.
Keep in mind; you can
survey more than one
area. In addition, you can
survey the same locales
each day of the count..
It. is also your call as to
how much time you want,
to spend counting birds.
The only requirement, is
you .survey for a mini
mum of 15 minutes.
Once you complete a
survey, you simply report,
your sightings at. the
GBBC website (bird-
count.org). After having
taken part, in literally
hundreds of counts and
being a veteran of hun
dreds of wildlife surveys,
believe me when I tell
you it. doesn’t, get. any
simpler than that..
If you have never par
ticipated in the GBBC
before, I suggest you
visit, the count’s website
prior to carrying out. your
first, survey. The site will
provide you invaluable
information regarding the
count, as well as tips on
conducting counts.
One of the most, fasci
nating aspects of the site
is that, you can literally
view the progress of the
count. Colorful maps
offer a real time glimpse
at. what, is being submit
ted throughout, the state
and nation.
I hope you join the
GBBC survey team as
it. is great, way to enjoy
nature while helping
conserve the birds that,
enhance our quality of
life.
Terry Johnson is
the retired Program
Manager of the Georgia
Nongame-Endangered
Wildlife Program. Pie
has written the infor
mative column ‘Monroe
Outdoors’ for the
Reporter for many years.
Email him at tjwood-
duck@bellsouth.net.
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WELLNESS
DIRECTORY
/./
Cardiology
Meyer Cardiology, PC
Dr. Thomas Meyer, Cardiologist
Monroe Regional Medical Complex
120 N. Lee Street • Forsyth, GA 31029
Comprehensive Cardiac Services
Call (478) 745-7456
Chiropractic
Walker Chiropractic Clinic
Dr. Steven Walker
255 Tift College Dr • Forsyth, GA
Mon - Wed, Fri: 9-6 • Thu, Sat by Apt
Physiologic Therapeutics
Chiropractic Sports Physician
Call (478) 994-1562
Counseling
Call
Carolyn Martel
to advertise your
area of expertise!
478-960-2259
Forsyth Intervention
Services & Training
Anger Management, Substance Abuse,
General Counseling, and More!
32 East Main St • Forsyth, GA 31029
forsythintervention@gmail.com
forsythintervention.com
Call (470) 236-3478
Dentistry
Brandon S. Pinson, DVM
Animal Medical Clinic of Forsyth
60 South Jackson St • Forsyth, GA31029
Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Sat: 8:00 am -12:30 pm
animalmedicalclinicforsyth.com
Call (478) 994-4986
Dermatology
Georgia Dermatology
Russell Harris, MD
Deborah Moore, PA-C
101 Martin Luther King Jr Driv
Forsyth, GA31029
GaDerm.com
Call (478) 994-5281
Hospitals
Monroe County
Hospital
88 Martin Luther Kingjr Drive
Forsyth, GA 31029
monroehospital.org
Call (478) 994-2521
Orthopedics
Pharmacies
Castleberry Drug Company
Jep Castleberry, RPH
Laurie Parkerson, RPH
Medicaid, Medicare &
Most Insurance Accepted
67 North Lee St. • Forsyth, GA 31029
For All Your Pharmaceutical Needs
Call (478) 994-2051
Veterinary
Brandon S. Pinson, DVM
Animal Medical Clinic of Forsyth
60 South Jackson St • Forsyth, GA 31029
Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Sat: 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
animalmedicalclinicforsyth.com
Call (478) 994-4986
Caldwell Veterniary
Hospital, LLC
Butler Caldwell, DVM
951 Flwy 41 South • Forsyth, GA 31029
butlercaldwell@bellsouth.net
caldwellvet.com
Call (478) 994-8228
Call
Carolyn Martel
to advertise your
area of expertise!
478-960-2259
Primary
Pet Care
Affordable Pet Care On The Move!
Dr. Kevin D. Smith 478-973-7733
Mobile Veterinarian Forsyth,GA
dr.smith@primarypetca reforsyth.com
primarypetcareforsyth.com
STAY HEALTHY
Reporter