Overview: Join the Oak Spring Biodiversity Conservation Team for a winter bird count across the Oak Spring landscape. The morning will consist of a walking tour across parts of the 700-acre property to count all birds we see and hear including some of our regular residents such as short-eared owls, northern harriers, and many other overwintering species.

The count will closely follow the protocols used in the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Surveys. These surveys have been conducted annually in early winter by organizations and volunteers throughout the Western Hemisphere to census bird populations and track changes over time. Though the Oak Spring property does not fall into any of the official CBC areas, the data collected will be a valuable contribution to our ongoing population monitoring and biodiversity conservation management plans.

Please note will not include a tour of the library, formal garden, or main residence. However, guests will be invited to stop by our Gallery and Gift Shop at the end of the count.

Tickets: $15

What to expect: Please expect several hours of moderate walking across hilly fields and similar uneven terrain. Participants should arrive with proper footwear, sufficient water, and dress appropriately for the weather, rain or shine. Binoculars and digital cameras encouraged.

About OSGF: The Oak Spring estate, protected by Paul and Bunny Mellon as part of a conservation easement, features a rich mixture of fields, meadows, woods, streams, and wetlands. OSGF is actively stewarding the land to protect and foster wildlife communities on the estate. In accordance with the mission of the Foundation, OSGF’s Biodiversity Team is actively working to inventory the diversity of plants and animals on site, cultivate their habitats, and share these biotic treasures with the public.