A DESCRIPITION of KLICKITAT COUNTY'S NORTH AMERICAN MIGRATION COUNT (NAMC) BACKGROUND Twice a year there is a nation-wide effort called the North American Migration Count, to monitor bird populations. This census is conducted by volunteers on a county-by-county basis and is held on the 2nd Saturday in May and the 3rd Saturday in September. The first Spring Count in Klickitat County was held in 1997 and the first Fall Count was held in 1998. This is a community wide effort that includes individuals not affiliated with any organization and help from the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Results of these counts can be found at http://community.gorge.net/birding/counts.htm OPPORTUNITIES This is an opportunity for people in the Columbia Gorge to directly contribute to a better understanding of our Gorge environment. Each year we are developing a better understanding of the birds that live in our community, their numbers, locations, and proportions. This is also an opportunity to create and continue friendships, network with other people who are interested in the environment, improve our birding skills, and become more familiar with the natural diversity of our area. WHAT TO EXPECT AND BRING We have divided Klickitat County into approximately nine sectors ( it varies from year to year as the number of participants varies) based roughly on the basis of drainage basins. Each sector has an experienced leader who determines when and where to meet, and how that sector's count will be organized. Regardless of which sector you are in, you should bring water, a sack lunch, binoculars, and a scope (if you have one). SKILL LEVELS NEEDED ALL skill levels are needed and appreciated. If you are just beginning, or have never been birding, this is a great way to learn from local experts, and help with tabulating the data. If you are an advanced birder, we have some parts of the County that need additional attention, and you may be assigned to an area that would otherwise not receive any or enough attention. BENEFITS Besides contributing to a better understanding of our environment, you are meeting and interacting with kindred spirits who share an interest in nature. We usually have over 20 participants, and we are hopeful of having 40 or more on future countsl. The number of species observed has increased from 103 in 1997 to 181 in 2000, as more people helped and became more knowledgeable about our environment. WHO TO CONTACT AND WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN Contact Bob Hansen by e-mail at bobhansen@gorge.net or at 509/637.2736. You will then be assigned to a sector, based on your interest, skill level, and needs of the census.