Have a 'tweet' time counting birds with Spring Valley Nature Center

It's time for Illinois birds to take a census and Schaumburg Park District needs your help! Bird enthusiasts of all ages are invited to participate in Spring Bird Count, set for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 5. Participants will meet at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road. After counting birds seen at the Nature Center and Heritage Farm, participants will carpool or drive themselves to various District conservation areas to continue the count. Admission is free.

"Whether we see one sparrow or a flock of five goldfinches, we'll document it," said Dave Brooks, manager of conservation services for Spring Valley. "At the end of the day, everything is tallied."

Results are submitted to the Illinois Audubon Society in Springfield.

"This is valuable information," Brooks said. "It's really useful comparing numbers from year-to-year to see if there are certain birds that seem to be declining in the area or other species that are increasing."

Midway through the annual "bird census" the group will stop for lunch at a local eatery, Brooks said. Participants will purchase their own lunches.

"Spring Bird Count is a fun social event," Brooks said. "We encourage people who don't consider themselves birdwatchers to come on out. You'll be with people who know birds and pick up great tips on how to identify different bird species."

Participants wanting to join the count later in the day are advised to contact the Nature Center to find out the group's location.

For more information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit parkfun.com.