Big Sit?

So you have to ask yourself... are you in? Or are you out? This Sunday, folks all across the country will be participating in the "Big Sit." The "Big Sit!" is an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event hosted by Bird Watcher's Digest and was founded by the New Haven, Connecticut Bird Club.So this Sunday, October 11th to be precise, the Anne Arundel County Bird Club and other bird enthusiasts will descend upon Fort Smallwood Park before the sun arrives to count birds. This nationwide event has one basic rule... each local bird club must set up a 17-foot circle some place and try to see how many species they can identify in a 24-hour period.Simple, right?The Anne Arundel Bird Club will start at 6:30AM with hopes of counting any owls that are feeling vocal.Depending on the weather and the birds, the count could last well into the afternoon.In previous years, Anne Arundel had their BIG SIT at Kinder Farm Park. where the record day was 50 species.No experience necessary, one just should plan on having fun and maybe seeing a great bird or two.Some good advice: Bring a lawn chair, some liquid refreshment and something to eat if you plan to stay a while.For more information on the BIG SIT, visit the web page.And if you are wondering, the top site in the country for the highest count last year was Cape May Point, New Jersey where "Team Peregrine Fondue," tallied 113 species!The top site in Maryland, coming in at number 9 in the US... Elk Neck State Park, Maryland, where "The Turkey Pointers" counted 82 species.So, where what circle will you enter this Sunday? Assateague? Turkey Point? Fort Smallwood? The choices are all fantastic!Me I haven't decided what circle I'm going to step into on Sunday, but I am looking forward to the count all the same!Good Birding,

Dan