This Year You Should Join the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count.
The Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has been an annual event since the early 20th century. In response to declining bird populations in 1900, early conservationists began a tradition of recording what they feared was declining bird populations and promoting bird watching as a hobby. Joining a local bird count can be a holiday tradition to cherish, connecting with nature while helping to gather information about birds and their habitats.
What is the number of Christmas birds?
As a participant in the count, you will contact your local circle and contact the organizer for details. Each count occurs on one calendar day from December 14 to January 5 within a 15-mile circle on the map, recording not only every species that can be seen or heard, but also every individual bird. Participants will tally their counts and submit the data to their tally writer, who will then be tasked with reporting the data to the Audubon Society.
Find your local meter
To find your circle, you can start on the map page that lists your existing Audubon CBC circle. Each circle includes the location and contact information of the compiler if you click on it so you can make arrangements to participate in your local count. There are locations all over North and South America, so there’s a good chance there’s a circle near you.
If you don’t have a local meter
If you don’t see a bird count near you, you can either take part in the National Backyard Bird Count (NBBC) as an alternative, or apply to start your own circle if you’re an experienced and aspiring bird watcher. Keep in mind that in order to organize your own count, you need to have at least a few other participants willing to take part, and that you have a clear idea of where the count can take place.
Account for everyone
The CBC is open to anyone who wants to participate in the circle and is conducted in much the same way as the census. Participation is free and open to all skill levels. If you are a beginner, you will be paired with a more experienced birder so you can learn the basics. This can be a great family activity, but I wouldn’t take younger children, who may have less attention span and be more vulnerable to inclement weather.
Be ready
You must be prepared to remain outdoors for the entire duration of the countdown, unless you are lucky enough to live within the circle. You are responsible for bringing your own binoculars and weather-appropriate clothing to the count. If you live inside one of the circles, you can participate from home by simply recording all the birds visiting your feeder and then feeding your results to the compiler.
How your count data is used
The data collected during the Christmas Bird Count is used as a resource for scientific publications, research, and for those studying wildlife and ecology. Summary data collected each year is also published to the public and can be found online at the Audubon Society website.
Stay up to date
To keep up with the data coming in and stay up to date on public science events hosted by the Audubon Society, you can subscribe to American Birds and check out the CBC Live Tracker for photos and updates from Christmas Bird Count participants. If you decide to participate in the vote count, you can also upload photos of yourself so others can see how your count is progressing.