Great Backyard Bird Count
The Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society is encouraging local residents to join the Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 17-20.
Participants are asked to spend at least 15 minutes to make their count, tracking the bird species they see and how many. Birds can be counted anywhere: in backyards, at school, at work, in neighborhood parks, downtown or at the library. Counts are shared online in a global database to help scientists and researchers monitor the health of bird populations.
No previous birding experience is necessary to participate. The Audubon Society has information to encourage and support backyard birders, including a guide to common local birds, at https://scvas.org/backyard-bird-grid and a blog publishing backyard bird sightings at scvas.org/backyard-birding.
To learn more about the Great Backyard Bird Count, visit https://scvas.org/gbbc.
District of Distinction
Last month, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority received the Special District Leadership Foundation’s District of Distinction Accreditation. The district is one of only 40 statewide, and only eight districts in the Bay Area have achieved this recognition.
“This accreditation is designed as a way for districts to highlight their prudent fiscal practices along with other areas important to effectively operate and govern a special district and is valid for three years,” reads the foundation’s website.
To be eligible for accreditation, a district must first earn the foundation’s District Transparency Certificate of Excellence, which allows special districts to showcase their transparency efforts.
For more information, visit sdlf.org.
Source: www.mercurynews.com