Jan. 17, 2025 -- The Lackawanna County Arts Engage! Task Force will launch “Shelter for All” in February, a communitywide project that focuses on learning and celebrating local bird populations, and looks at what “home” means.

Organizations, schools, community groups, municipal governments, individuals and businesses will be invited to paint decorative bird houses for a community installation targeted for fall 2025.  Programming and information related to the theme, “Shelter for All,” will be available on the county website and social media pages.

The project will kick off Feb. 14 to 17 with the “Great Backyard Bird Count,” a global event in which members of the public count as many birds as they can find and report their findings to Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology. The observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before annual migrations.

The Gathering Place, 304 State St., Clarks Summit, will present an educational program Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m., “Bird Counts,” hosted by Bob Davis from the Master Gardeners, to educate the public on how to participate. There also is information on the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology and Audubon Society joint website, birdcount.org.

The ARTS Engage! Task Force was created in 2016. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Lackawanna County residents through participation in artistic, creative and cultural experiences. The task force has established several other programs, including the community installations “April Showers,” in which the public was invited to decorate umbrellas, and “NEPA Transform,” in which the public painted ceramic butterflies that were hung on Courthouse Square.

To reserve birdhouses to paint, or for more information on other programs, contact the Lackawanna County Arts & Culture Department at 570-496-1724 or [email protected]