You look like you need to take a BIG SIT. Well you’re in luck because the John W. Sellars Chapter of TOS is hosting The Big Sit! event October 12-13 at Cedars of Lebanon State Park and you are invited to participate.
What is The Big Sit! you ask? The Big Sit! is an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event hosted by Bird Watcher’s Digest and founded by the New Haven (Connecticut) Bird Club. Every team that observes the year’s “Golden Bird” has a chance to win $500. Every year, bird watchers from around the globe unite on this special day by participating in this free event, open to any person and club in any country! The Big Sit! is sponsored by Swarovski Optik.
The Big Sit! is like a Big Day or a bird-a-thon in that the object is to tally as many bird species as can be seen or heard within 24 hours. The difference lies in the area limitation from which you may observe.
Some people have called it a “tailgate party for birders.” Find a good spot for bird watching—preferably one with good views of a variety of habitats and lots of birds. Next, create a real or imaginary circle 17 feet in diameter and sit inside the circle for 24 hours, counting all the bird species you see or hear. That’s it.
Participants are allowed to come and go from the circle—especially for the purpose of bringing food back into the circle—and the circle need not be occupied for the entire 24 hours.
There are Big Sit! circles all over the world, including Guatemala, India, the Netherlands, England, Vietnam, New Zealand, and Cedars of Lebanon State Park.
We plan to start at 7:00 Saturday morning, 12 October 2019, and bird until 7: 00 Sunday morning. If you want to bird with us, we would appreciate hearing from you. Although not required, we would appreciate your letting us know by completing the form below. This will give us an idea of how best to prepare for The Big Sit!
Stay tuned to this website for additional details as The Big Sit! draws near.
If you have questions, feel free to contact us at lebanonbirding@gmail.com
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lebanonbirding.org
Trebek: Butterflies, bull bats and barred owls
First up, a tour of the Native Plant & Butterfly Garden at Cedars of Lebanon State Park led by Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Linda Robertson. Linda established and maintains the garden and will go deep catalog sharing her knowledge of the plants and animals that call this magnificent garden home. Everyone is invited. To participate meet at the Dixon L. Merritt Nature Center by 6:30 p.m. The butterfly garden is in full bloom and absolutely gorgeous so don’t miss this opportunity!
Next, we venture off into the forests and glades of southern Wilson County in search of nightjars and owls. To join us on the birding expedition, be at the Nature Center by 7:15 p.m. We will pile into as few vehicles as possible, then hit the back roads just a few miles south of the park with Stephen Zipperer leading the way.
Expect to hear Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Chuck-will’s Widow, Eastern Whippoorwill, and Common Nighthawk. If we’re lucky, we might catch sight of one or two of these birds.
