ST. LOUIS — Birders throughout St. Louis will be flocking to numerous spots around the area to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count, which kicked off Thursday.
The count, dubbed the "nation's longest-running community science bird project" by the Audubon Society, helps numerous organizations assess the health of bird populations for future conservation efforts. Click here to learn how to participate.
Bill Rowe, president of the St. Louis Audubon Society, shared the following bird viewing areas, or "circles," around St. Louis that are participating. Interested in joining any of these counts? Email Rowe at president@stlouisaudubon.org to get in touch with compilers in each circle.
Dec. 15: Elsah Circle
Includes areas on both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the Mississippi River, including Elsah, Grafton, Portage des Sioux, and Whitecorn.
Dec. 16: Collinsville Circle
Includes Collinsville, Maryville, Glen Carbon, Fairview Heights and parts of Granite City and Troy, Illinois.
Dec. 16: Pere Marquette Park Circle
Covers parts of Jersey and Calhoun counties in Illinois, and a small slice of Missouri including Winfield.
Dec. 17: Weldon Spring Circle
The area includes Weldon Spring, Saint Peters and some parts of Chesterfield and Saint Charles.
Dec. 18: Baldwin Lake-Kaskaskia River Valley Circle
The team will meet at the Kaskaskia River marina in New Athens, Illinois, at about 6:30 a.m.
Dec. 22: Carlyle, IL Circle
The circle covers a generous portion of Carlyle Lake and the surrounding countryside. Participation is by prior arrangement only.
Dec. 30: Clarence Cannon Circle
The circle covers areas up Route 79, in Lincoln and Pike counties: Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge, BK Leach CA, Prairie Slough CA, and quite a lot of woods and farmland.
Jan. 1: Confluence Circle, near Florrisant
This count covers Riverlands, Columbia Bottom, Chain-of-Rocks, North Riverfront Park, Dresser Island, Spanish Lake Park, Sunset Park, Sioux Passage Park and partially Alton, Illinois.
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