This weekend is for the birds in Southern Nevada

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003 | 8:59 a.m.

To join the Great Backyard Bird Count, which takes place Friday through Monday, go to birdsource.org

With the National Audubon Society set to launch its sixth annual Great Backyard Bird Count on Friday, Southern Nevada homeowners have something to boast about.

They are creating more habitat for the birds, conservation officials said.

About 5,000 new residents are moving to Southern Nevada each month, and all of those new back yards are attracting birds, said John Hiatt, conservation chairman for the Red Rock Audubon Society.

"They provide much more habitat for thousands of birds," Hiatt said.

The goal of the bird count is to compile vital information about birds and their environment, according to the Audubon Society.

This year, the Audubon Society is interested in keeping track of the devastating epidemic of West Nile Virus among birds nationally, but it is not considered a threat here.

Nevada is one of a handful of states, all in the West, where West Nile Virus has not been reported. Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Hawaii and Alaska are the other virus-free states, said Hermi Hiatt, president of the Red Rock Audubon Society. John and Hermi Hiatt are husband and wife.

Along with mockingbirds, doves and sparrows, hummingbirds winter in Southern Nevada, and Cooper's hawks are also prominent because they prey on other birds, Hermi Hiatt said.

Anna's hummingbirds, which glide along California's coastline in the summer and winter in Arizona, are now also starting to hang out in Las Vegas for the winter, Hermi Hiatt said.

Even the lowly pigeon will be part of the bird count.

"It all comes down to creating habitat," she said.