The agenda for the Audubon Society of Garland County will include three important segments. 1) A planning session for the annual Christmas Bird Count to be held on December 18. 2) A promotional period for a “Bird Photo Contest” in this area. 3) A holiday potluck and social time.
Dr. Katherine Dvorak, Ph.D, acting natural resource manager for Hot Springs National Park, will be present to assign volunteers to their respective count areas. Dr. Dvorak, who will be the local chief officer in this citizen science project, will distribute appropriate information and forms, explain how the Christmas Bird Count process works, and connect less experienced bird counters to more experienced ones. Volunteers with all levels of birding skill are now being sought to help in the annual count.
The first Bird Photography Contest sponsored by the Garland County Audubon Society was announced last month. Entries of bird pictures taken by amateur photographers will be in competition for more than $500 of prize money. Photos are to be emailed with relevant contact information to the society’s email address. At this meeting, the society will be working on a plan to get information out about the contest and promote broad participation. Learn more about the contest at gcasbirds.org.
All attendees are invited to bring a covered dish for a potluck meal to be eaten at the meeting. Drinks, eating utensils and entrée dishes will be supplied by regular standing members. As is our habit, bird watchers will be reporting on the birds they are seeing in their yards and we will be announcing upcoming field trips and special events. Even if guests cannot bring food, they are welcome to join the meal, for there has always been abundance.
The meeting will be December 8 with gathering at 6:00 PM with the Meal at 6:30 PM at Westminster Presbyterian Church between Chilli’s and IHOP on Central in Hot Springs, Arkansas