Counting is for the birds

  • Published
  • By John Pennell
  • JBER Public Affairs
Compiled from National Audobon Society news releases --  The count period for the 112th Christmas Bird Count began Wednesday and continues through Jan. 5.

During the count period, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations.

Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists go out on an annual mission - often before dawn.

For over 100 years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house during the holiday season.

Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind or rain to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.

From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition - and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.

Before the turn of the 20th century, people engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt." They would choose sides and go afield with their guns; whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.

Conservation was in its beginning stages around the turn of the 20th century, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations.
Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman, an early officer in the then budding Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition - a "Christmas Bird Census" - that would count birds in the holidays rather than hunt them.

Thanks to Chapman's inspiration and the enthusiasm of 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts were held that day. The locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario, to Pacific Grove, Calif., with most counts in or near the population centers of northeastern North America.

Those original 27 Christmas Bird Counters tallied around 90 species on all the counts combined.

Want to participate in a Christmas Bird Count near you?

To find the date of a Christmas Bird Count near you and/or to register for a count go to https://netapp.audubon.org/cbcregistration.

There is a $5 fee to participate in the CBC for all field participants aged 19 or older.
Since the Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago, it has relied on the dedication and commitment of volunteer citizen scientists. Your local count will occur on one day between the inclusive dates.

If you have more than one local count, they will probably be conducted on different dates within the CBC season. You can pick the most convenient date, or participate in more than one count.

There is a specific methodology to the CBC, but everyone can participate. The count takes place within "Count Circles," which focus on specific geographical areas.
Each circle is led by a Count Compiler.

Therefore, if you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.

In addition, if your home is within the boundaries of a Count Circle, then you can stay home and report the birds that visit your feeder once you have arranged to do so with the Count Compiler.

If you have never been on a CBC before your first step is to locate and contact your local Count Compiler to find out how you can volunteer.

Volunteers have been counting birds on the CBC for more than 110 years, and their contributions represent a tremendously valuable resource for learning more about bird behavior and bird conservation.

A lot has happened to early winter bird populations and distributions in the last 110 plus years, and the Christmas Bird Count is an invaluable resource to discover those changes.

In addition, the 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count will be held Feb. 17 through 20.
The GBBC is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are across the U.S. and Canada. Please visit the official website at www.birdcount.org for more information.

Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.

Bird populations are always shifting and changing. For example, 2009 GBBC data highlighted a huge southern invasion of Pine Siskins across much of the eastern United States.

Participants counted 279,469 Pine Siskins on 18,528 checklists, as compared to the previous high of 38,977 birds on 4,069 checklists in 2005.

Failure of seed crops farther north caused the Siskins to move south to find their favorite food.

On the www.birdcount.org web site, participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during the count. The site has tips to help identify birds and special materials for educators.

Participants may also enter the GBBC photo contest by uploading images taken during the count. Many images will be featured in the GBBC website's photo gallery.

All participants are entered in a drawing for prizes like bird feeders, binoculars, books, CDs and many other products.