<strong>From staff reports</strong>

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will conduct an annual Baltimore Oriole Winter Survey from Friday, Feb. 12 through Monday, Feb. 15, in conjunction with the Great Backyard Bird Count. The state natural resources agency is interested in the status and distribution of these colorful songbirds that are wintering in the Palmetto State.

Survey participants count and record the largest number of Baltimore orioles they can see at one time, on one, two, three or all four days of the survey period.

Even if you cannot participate during the count period, SCDNR would still like to record your oriole numbers during the winter. You can participate in the survey by requesting an SCDNR survey form, or if you are a Great Backyard Bird Count participant, you can report your numbers through an eBird submission.

For more information and to receive survey materials for the oriole survey, contact Lex Glover at GloverL@dnr.sc.gov. For more information on the Great Backyard Bird Count and counting all species of birds, visit http://gbbc.birdcount.org/.

This will be the sixth annual survey, and South Carolina continues to report the largest number of wintering Baltimore orioles in the country.

<em>Above: This male Baltimore oriole was photographed near a feeder in Mt. Pleasant. SCDNR will conduct the annual Baltimore Oriole Winter Survey Feb. 12-15, in conjunction with the Great Backyard Bird Count. Photo by Craig Watson, SCDNR.</em>