The Darke County Park District is pleased to announce the Down to Earth Book Club’s winter selection. For their fifth season, they will read 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann. This work of science, history, and archeology radically alters our understanding of the Americas before Columbus’ arrival in 1492. Contray to what so many learn in school, the pre-Columbian Indians were not sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness; rather, there were large numbers who actively molded and influenced the land.

Each quarter the Down to Earth Book Club will feature a different book, some by well-known nature writers, some about outdoor adventure, and even some about pioneers settling Ohio. Everyone is invited to read the book and join them at the Nature Center to discuss the work, enjoy some yummy treats, and suggest future books.

This season’s book club will meet on Monday, February 6th at 6:30pm at the Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center. Please call ahead to let them know you plan on participating in the book club discussion in February. The Darke County Parks Nature Center can be reached at (937) 548-0165.

Did you know? The first Maya cities developed around 750 BC; by 500 BC, these cities possessed monumental architecture.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) originally scheduled for December 18th was cancelled due to severe weather, and it has been rescheduled for Monday, Jan. 2nd. It is a census of birds in the Western Hemisphere, performed by volunteer birdwatchers and administered by the National Audubon Society. The purpose is to provide population data for use in science, especially conservation biology, though many people participate for recreation.

Each individual count is performed in a "count circle" with a diameter of 15 miles. At least ten volunteers break up into small parties and follow assigned routes, which change little from year to year, counting every bird they see. In most count circles, some people also watch feeders instead of following routes.

The Darke County Birders Club in conjunction with the Darke Countians for Wildlife Conservation will be participating in the annual event on Monday, January 2nd and will meet at North McDonalds in Greenville at 7:30am for location assignments. For more information about the Christmas Bird Count visit the National Audubon Society website at [http://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count], and for questions or to help out with this year’s Darke County count, contact Bob Welch with Darke Countians for Wildlife Conservation at (937) 423-1596 or glennwelch1@gmail.com.