Hey everyone – the Green Bay Packers are playing in the SUPERBOWL this year!
That is fantastic news for the countless Packer fans across the world…finally a reason to watch the darn thing. Not since the ‘96 season where they beat the Patriots and the disappointing ‘97 appearance where John Elway was allowed to actually matter (in a loss) have the GB Packers been to the Big Dance. They will play the Pittsburg Steelers in Dallas for ultimate bragging rights to the 2010 season.
For the next two weeks (until kickoff) GB “fans” of all ages and levels of football knowledge will be pontificating and opining right along with the “experts” citing all sorts of data, statistics, trends, observations, and personal conjecture – all for the purposes of establishing their own preponderance of credibility amongst their peers. Learned professionals alongside with the average novice can equally contribute to the discussion and help to provide insight. Because it’s a “game” and until it’s played, no person’s input is more accurate than the next.
While that’s all well and good from a purely entertainment aspect why not also be a GB fan in another area that truly matters? What if I told you about a similar arena of knowledge that includes both the casual observer and the wizened veteran? How you ask? Well…do you feed birds in your backyard? Do you feed birds in your side or front yard? If so, you are a highly sought after citizen scientist and the GBBC wants YOU! (...and it’s a few weekends after the Super Bowl too – so no conflicts!)
Here’s the goal for this team: The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual four-day event that recruits bird watchers of all ages in counting their very own backyard birds to assist in creating an up to date (annual) accounting of just where the birds are across North America. Anyone can help; from beginning bird watchers to experts. A counting bird watcher can spend as few as 15 minutes on one day, or can count for as long as desired each day of the event. There’s no cost, it is enjoyable and the information collected and submitted is quite valuable—plus it can even help the birds.
This year’s 2011 GBBC will take place Friday, February 18, through Monday, February 21.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada and sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited.
So, enjoy the GB Packers Super Bowl victory over the vaunted Steelers (on February 6th, 2011) and then enjoy counting your GB-Birds and pay special attention to the green and gold ones...they’ll be the ones touching down on the field with the Lombardi trophy.
Go Pack Go – (and Go Count!)
(...oh and one more thing: ...the BEARS STILL SUCK...) - Rodgers that!
