‍KARVAL, Colo – The Eastern Colorado Grassland Coalition is hosting the first Karval-area Christmas Bird Count to assist Audubon with the nation’s longest running community science bird project on Sunday, Jan. 5.  

“If you’re interested in the future of Karval Lake and the bird species that inhabit the area, I encourage you to come out and take part in the Christmas Bird Count,” said Dan Merewether, Eastern Colorado Grassland Coalition volunteer coordinator.  

The Christmas Bird Count promotes conservation rather than hunting and encourages people to join an event where they count birds within a 15-mile diameter circle. Those circles are predetermined, and any level of birder can participate. The data collected powers the Audubon’s annual conservation plans.

“The only expertise you need to join us is to have a love for birds and passion for conservation,” said Merewether.  “We’ll help you learn everything you need to know to participate in our first Karval-area Christmas Bird Count.”

Everyone who plans to join the Jan. 5 event should meet at the Karval Community Building (29085 County Rd S, Karval, CO 80823) at 8 a.m. Bring weather appropriate clothing, comfortable shoes, binoculars, water and a sack lunch. There are no amenities in Karval, so be sure your vehicle has enough fuel for the 60-mile route back to services.  

To learn more about Christmas Bird Counts, go to https://www.audubon.org/community-science/christmas-bird-count.

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The Eastern Colorado Grassland Coalition is a newly formed Regional Partnership in conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The Coalition works to promote recreation and conservation in Elbert, Cheyenne, Kit Carson and Lincoln counties, and interested parties are encouraged to share ideas to stimulate the local economy, enhance recreation opportunities and preserve eastern Colorado grasslands for the benefit of today’s producers and future generations.  

To learn more about participating in the organization or the Karval Christmas Bird Count, contact Merewether at merewether@esrta.com or (719) 446-5403.

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