Nature Done Wright

     The Celery Farm’s Big Sit team came up with 72 bird species yesterday, a record for the location by several birds. The event lasted 12 hours, and more than 20 birders participated.

   New birds this year included: Common Moorhen, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, and Field Sparrow.

Several birders got new birds for their life lists.

   The goal is to see as many species as possible in an hour.

    The number of species seen speaks to the importance of the Celery Farm as a bird sanctuary and to the increasing numbers of eagle-eyed birders at the 109-acre refuge.

   There were no doubt more species of birds at the natural area yesterday — they just weren’t visible from the observation platform.
   A mini-version of the Big Sit takes place at the Pirie Platform from 8 to 9 a.m. every Sunday while weather permits.

   Everyone is invited, but space on the platform is limited.