JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It's the most important weekend of the year when it comes to protecting bird populations in our area.
It's the Great Backyard Bird Count, and bird experts are looking for help from people everywhere.
The count started Friday and runs through Monday, and already has nearly 200,000 checklists filled out.
That info helps researchers track migratory patterns and if any birds are spotted in a place that's unusual for them.
For example, last week, a Caracara was spotted in St. Johns County, the first time that's ever been logged. A member of the St. Johns County Audubon says she uses data from this weekend when talking to the county commission about zoning changes and tree ordinances.
While all this is going on, local volunteers are tracking another phenomenon - birds crashing into windows.
"During migration, which can last four to six weeks, with all the different species that do move, we'll get six to eight calls daily with those types of birds," said Ark Wildlife Rescue President Karen Ward-Lynch.
A group of volunteers from the zoo and local Audubon societies are working with building managers in downtown to turn off their lights a little earlier at night during migratory periods, so birds can navigate around the buildings more safely.
There's a lot happening in the world of birds - and the best thing someone can do to help without even leaving home is to spend 15 minutes in a backyard logging any birds they see.
The app can even help amateurs determine what kind of bird they see by asking a series of questions about the bird's size and color.
First Coast News conducted a count during a newscast and found:
- Four Canada Geese
- One Mourning Dove
- 31 Double-crested Cormorants
- One Great Blue Heron
- Two Little Blue Herons
- One Osprey