Watch and learn about birds at the Big Sit

Birders have their tailgate parties, too — sort of.

It’s called the Big Sit, when folks ensconce themselves in predetermined, 17-foot-wide circles and identify and count all the birds they see and hear from their circles during a certain period.

“It’s like a tailgate party for the birds,” said Nikki Belmonte, the Atlanta Audubon Society’s executive director.

AAS is putting on a Big Sit — free and open to the public — Thursday in Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It will be held on the big green lawn in the park’s northeastern corner.

From my experience at other Big Sits around Georgia, the events are a good time to relax in lawn chairs, have a picnic lunch and socialize with friends and family — all the while keeping eyes and ears open for the birds and tallying them.

There should be lots of birds to see.

Despite being in the heart of downtown, the northeastern corner of the park has become an urban oasis for a variety of birds — including some lingering migratory birds, such as warblers, tanagers and thrushes — in late fall and early winter.

The event, Belmonte noted, is BYOB (bring your own binoculars), though AAS will have several sets of binoculars available to borrow.

AAS staff and volunteers also will be on hand to help identify birds and educate the public on how they can create and protect bird-friendly habitat.

Michelle Hamner, the event’s coordinator, said AAS will compile an “official” Big Sit list of birds seen and heard during the five-hour event.

The 17-foot circle rule will be observed, though somewhat “loosely,” she said. Participants may designate their own circle or be invited to join another group’s circle.

Participants may stay for only a few minutes or the whole time, “and can be as strict or casual with their counting as they wish,” she said.

The event is being held in conjunction with Georgia Gives Day, a 24-hour fundraising effort by nonprofit groups all over the state.

AAS hopes to raise $3,000 to help fund its programs.

In the sky: From David Dundee, Tellus Science Museum astronomer: The North Taurid meteor shower will reach a peak of about 15 meteors per hour Thursday night. Look to the east from about midnight until dawn.

The moon will be new Wednesday.

Venus rises out of the east about three hours before sunrise.

Mars rises out of the east about 3 a.m. Jupiter rises out of the east just after midnight.