Department of Conservation invites birders to join webinars in preparation for first Missouri Birding Challenge
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Missouri River Bird Observatory and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation invite both new and experienced birders to join the first Missouri Birding Challenge to be held May 1-15.
Missouri Birding Challenge participants will compete alone or on a team in different birding categories based on their ages, birding experience and comfort levels. Birders will use eBird (eBird.org) to record their lists of birds identified at public natural areas around the state or even in their own backyards. Once participants complete a category, they will be entered into a drawing for bird-related prizes such as binoculars and gift cards. There is a fee of $10-$25 per person or team depending on the category. Fees go toward migratory bird conservation efforts.
This event is for both new and experienced birders. Get prepared through webinars on birds and birding, including how to get started and how to help birds. Learn more about the event and related topics at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/birdwatching/missouri-birding-challenge. Rules and details will be released in the coming weeks. Registration will be open April 1-30 through the webpage.
Get Prepared Through Birding Webinars
The Department of Conservation invites birders to prepare for the event in May by joining the Missouri Birding Challenge webinar series on various birding topics. The webinars will introduce participants to birding and educate them on key issues around birds and bird conservation in Missouri.
Register in advance for each webinar and then join the webinar live. Registered attendees will receive a reminder email before the webinar.
Webinars offered are:
- Introduction and Benefits to Birding with MDC Ornithologist Kristen Heath-Acre: Thursday, Jan. 16, 6-7 p.m. New to birding? No idea where to start? Wondering what all the fuss is about? Heath-Acre will walk attendees through the basics of birding, how to get started and why birding is so beneficial to our health. Learn why we need birds and birds need us. Register at webex.com/weblink/register/r490a71ae00c5a656f616921335bbe93d
- eBird and Citizen Science with USFWS Ornithologist Sarah Kendrick: Thursday, Feb. 13, 6-7 p.m. Join Kendrick to learn about eBird, a massive online database that logs birders’ sightings and is now a major contributor to bird conservation science. Learn how to use eBird to log bird sightings and how this data source is revolutionizing how we see the magic of migration and tracking bird population trends over time. Register at webex.com/weblink/register/r1cfd388dfa07ae9c2a2a2a2e17783cc9
- Missouri Birds and Habitats with USFWS Ornithologist Sarah Kendrick: Thursday, March 6, 6-7 p.m. Does birdwatching seem overwhelming? Too many species and habitats? Join Kendrick for a primer on bird identification by sight and sound using clues about the bird and its habitat. Whether new to birding or experienced, there are always tips and tricks to learn in the world of birds. Register at webex.com/weblink/register/r8e00480b27a066090d833f8f953298a6
- The Full Annual Cycle of Bird Conservation with MDC Ornithologist Kristen Heath-Acre: Thursday, April 3, 6-7 p.m. Join Heath-Acre to learn about the incredible journeys that Missouri’s migratory birds make every year. Learn where these birds go, why and how researchers are investigating the full annual cycle of migratory birds to better understand, and hopefully reverse, troubling declines in bird populations. Register at webex.com/weblink/register/rbef953b3747d347adfd98137ee461694
- Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds at Home with Dana Ripper of the Missouri River Bird Observatory, Thursday, May 1, 6-7 p.m. Birds are in trouble. Research shows a loss of nearly a third of North American birds over the past 50 years. Don’t lose hope. Learn how to help bird populations at home and how to make a big impact with just seven simple actions. Register in advance at webex.com/weblink/register/r1d047279e4ce9428de97c3c38ded815a
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