10th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count

I'm not a birder, a rare and wonderful species of human who tramps out in the frosty woods or, you know, the as-of-yet-undeveloped fields next to the new mall, seeking to observe and catalogue the species of bird they see.

Nonetheless, I'm hooked on the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology's newsletter, website, and programs - like the feeder cam, set up on the lab's bird feeders.

In addition to this year's Project FeederWatch, currently under way, they'll be celebrating urban birds in May, and sponsoring the 10th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count, February 16-19, 2007.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is joining forces with Audubon and asking people in all parts of the US to help spread the word about the count, and to participate. They're offering a downloadable poster and additional information over at BirdSource.

So, even if you're not going to turn into a birder - and you never know, it could happen - you can still help with conservation and preservation efforts for this country's wild bird population.