December 19, 2011: December is for the Birds

1. Today will be partly sunny with a high near 41, according to reports from the National Weather Service.

2. You can head over to the  for an 11:15 a.m. session. It's $19 for members and $25 for non-members.

3. If you’re a nature lover but find yourself stuck indoors due to a lack of recreational options in the winter, here’s something you may want to consider. The Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count has just begun and will run through Jan. 5. The data collected helps identify birds in the most urgent need of conservation action; it also reveals increases in populations. Counts are often family or community traditions. Information about this popular event, now in its 112th year, can be found in the group’s recent press release.

4. There are many territories in Connecticut looking for Christmas Bird Count volunteers. Most local to our area is Storrs, where compiler Steve Morytko is looking for volunteers. He can be reached via e-mail at smorytko@yahoo.com. For a list of other Connecticut locations, visit this link.

5. The Audubon has posted a Christmas Bird Count slideshow. Check out the beautiful photographs here.

Speaking of photographs: If you do happen to volunteer, don’t forget your cameras. The Audubon Society’s 16th Annual Photography Contest is coming up. Framed photos can be submitted from Jan. 10 to 14, 2012, with a reception taking place on Jan. 27. Learn more about the contest on the Glastonbury center’s site. Entry forms, schedule and specifics are available at the Glastonbury center and here as well.