The Flagstaff Area National Monuments will host a birding event from February 18th-21st, 2022 in conjunction with the 25th annual Great Backyard Bird Count. The Great Backyard Bird Count was started in 1998 by the Cornell Ornithology Lab and the Audubon Society and is the oldest citizen science event focused on wild birds. More information about the project is available at www.birdcount.org.
Birders of all ages and experience levels are invited to visit Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater Volcano, and/or Wupatki National Monuments. Visitor centers will have bird lists and identification materials available, answer questions, and provide helpful information. Participants spend at least 15 minutes observing birds over the four days of the bird count, count all birds observed during that time, and enter observation data into the www.ebird.org website.
“Birds tell us how our environment and climate are changing,” said Chad Wilsey, chief scientist at the National Audubon Society. “By joining the Great Backyard Bird Count, participants contribute valuable data that help scientists better understand our surroundings. Together we use this information to better protect birds and the places they need.”
Site regulations at the Flagstaff Area National Monuments require visitors to stay on designated trails and not disturb any wildlife, including birds. The use of recorded calls to attract birds is prohibited on National Park Service land. Park and visitor center hours are as follows:
· Walnut Canyon National Monument (nps.gov/waca): park and visitor center open 9:00am – 4:30pm daily
· Sunset Crater Volcano (nps.gov/sucr) and Wupatki (nps.gov/wupa) National Monuments: roads always open, trails open dawn to dusk, visitor centers open 9:00am–4:30pm daily
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov
