Novice birders invited to join in The Big Sit Oct. 11

The concept is simplicity itself: find a good place for bird watching and count all the bird species you see or hear.

The Big Sit is an international bird-watching event when folks around the world tally the different birds they identify throughout the day.

Forty species of birds were counted at McHenry County's Big Sit event in 2019.

Novice birders are welcome to join in The Big Sit on Sunday, Oct. 11, in Glacial Park in Ringwood.

Adults and children are invited to join in the fun for as little or long as they like anytime between 7 a.m. .to 5 p.m. The Big Sit will be located in the Powers-Walker House parking lot at Glacial Park. Take Harts Road west off Route 31 between Ringwood and Richmond, and follow the signs to the Powers-Walker House.

People are invited to bring a lawn chair and their own mask, binoculars, drinking water, hot drink and snacks.

Attendees will practice proper social distancing by staying a bald eagle's wingspan (6 feet) away from one another and wearing masks. They will use the whole parking lot for bird viewing and listening.

Experienced birders will share views through scopes which will be disinfected between users.

The event is sponsored by McHenry County Audubon, McHenry County Conservation District, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. For more information, visit hackmatacknwr.org or www.facebook.com/FriendsHackmatackNWR/.

Also, the Fox River Ecosystem Partnership is hosting a program on Hackmatack NWR on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

It will be presented by Nancy Williamson and Steve Byers. It will be offered via Zoom. For more information and to get the Zoom link, visit foxriverecosystem.org/fox/meetings-news.