The Big Sit flies high this weekend as first-time to advanced birdwatchers are invited to spend the day observing their feathery friends.
The Big Sit is an annual birding event in which individuals and families can spot and identify birds in their natural habitat. Watchers of all experience levels can expect to see winter birds like juncos and white crown sparrows, late migrants like robins and western meadowlarks and three species of hawk. Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge sponsors the event, which is set for Sunday and held at its Warbler Woodland Wildlife Viewing Area at the refuge 20 miles north of Jamestown. Admission is free.
"You can really get a good look at birds," said Paulette Scherr, wildlife biologist and one of the event's organizers.
Although with birds, seeing them is just the beginning.
As birders advance in skill level, they'll start to recognize a bird by the sing-song in its chirp or the flick of its tail or wing, Scherr said. The event is part of National Wildlife Refuge Week, which promotes outdoor activities like fishing, hunting and wildlife photography.
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The goal of the Big Sit is for watchers to count as many birds as possible. Attendants will sit in a 17-foot diameter circle. Chairs, binoculars and spotting scopes will be available, although attendants are encouraged to bring their own gear too.
About 20 people have attended the event in each of the four years the refuge has held it. One of them is Dan Buchanan, a Jamestown resident who considers himself a birding hobbyist who started watching birds more than 30 years ago when he lived in apartment and watched them outside his window. Now, he participates in local birding events as well as some out-of-state.
Buchanan said he likes the Big Sit event because it's an unthreatening way to get started, especially for people who've never birded before.
"Some people like sporting events, I like birding events," he said.
Although the National Weather Service predicts weather conducive for outdoor activities -- mostly sunny with a high of 62 -- Mother Nature wasn't always so kind to the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge.
Waters flooded in 2009, 2010 and 2011. So the refuge rebuilt its office and visitor center spaces as well as buildings for maintenance and storage.
Those waters also affected the habitat, making the shore more of a silt-sand mix with less grass but more mud. The residual effects reduced the number of shore birds and sparrows visitors could see, Scherr said.
Organizers will provide printed informational materials and local experts in hopes those attending learn a little about the birds too.
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For example, most wild birds die in their first year of life. But if they survive that year, they likely live for a while. The American robin, for example, lives up to 12 years and both the great blue heron and the Canada goose can live up to 23 years, according to the Bird Watcher's Digest, which organizes the national Big Sit event.
The event isn't a competition, although the group may start a few games and activities for children.
"Noise is no problem," Scherr said of active young people who may have trouble remaining in one seat throughout the Big Sit, which begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at "dark pm" according to promotional materials. Attendants can stay for a few hours or the whole day, Scherr said.
The Warbler Woodland Wildlife Viewing Area is located on the east side of Arrowwood Lake, north of 11th Street Southeast near Pingree. Organizers will have fires for warmth and for cooking and those attending can bring their own food to grill. For additional information, call 701-285-3341.
Sun reporter Katie Ryan-Anderson can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at kryananderson@jamestownsun.com
