Bird counters brave the rain

Rain or shine, nature-loving Iowans are outdoors today, counting birds. The International Migratory Day is also known as the Big Count day and the “Bird-a-thon,” for some fans the most important day of the year. Ric Zarwell is head of Iowa’s “Important Bird Areas” program and an avid bird-counter himself. People will be out all day trying to spot different species and count total birds they see. Zarwell’s been working with Audubon Iowa for years and says a bird census can be as significant as the human kind.He says the data covers a wide area and long-time, helping show trends in bird populations. Zarwell says one example is a small warbler whose numbers dwindle as forest habitat disappears. The bird census is entirely voluntary and amateur, and anyone can go out and take part. To get more info and turn in your bird-count numbers, go to www.audubon.com and click on “Birdathon.”