"Prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with their guns—whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.
Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition—a "Christmas Bird Census" that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them." - The National Audubon Society
Join the Pelican Park Nature Club as we participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count! Our goal is to get a snapshot of every bird at the Northlake Nature Center and Pelican Park on December 30th. To do so, we will follow this schedule:
7:00AM-9:00AM: Northlake Nature Center Eagle Trail, Longleaf Trail, Clubhouse Trail. We will begin and end in the Northlake Nature Center parking lot. Approximately 1.5 miles.
9:00AM-10:45AM: Northlake Nature Center South Loop trail. We will begin and end in the Northlake Nature Center parking lot. Approximately 2.25 miles.
11:00AM-1:00PM: Northlake Nature Center Savannah Loop and North Loop trails. We will begin and end in the parking lot adjacent to Grey Field 2. Approximately 2.5 miles.
1:00PM-3:00PM: Pelican Park Health Trail. We will begin and end in the parking lot for the Red Complex. Approximately 1.5 miles.
Feel free to join us for the whole day, half day, or just one trail! Please bring water, snacks, and dress appropriately for the weather.
Accessibility: The trails in the Northlake Nature Center are hard-packed mud with minimal elevation changes that are mostly flat with occasional protruding tree roots. The Pelican Park Health trail is flat, paved concrete. The Northlake Nature Center has a portalet, and the parking lot adjacent to Grey Field has a restroom.
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