110th Christmas Bird Count Begins

White-breasted Nuthatch Waiting To Be Counted photo by Larry Jordan

The longest running citizen science project in the world, Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, started Monday, and it’s looking for a few thousand volunteers like you!

Excursions are organized around the country by local bird clubs, and anyone can join in to help simply by identifying the birds you spot.  The data is gathered and analyzed by the Audubon Society, and it forms real scientific conclusions about the state of bird populations across North America.

The annual State of the Birds report, which this year detailed alarming trends in population loss among dozens of U.S. birds, would not be possible without the thousands of citizen scientists who have participated in projects like the Christmas Bird Count over the years.

Last year, more than 59,800 people counted nearly 70-million birds in all 50 states and beyond.  To see last years report go here.

The Christmas Bird Count grew out of a revolution in the way people appreciated birds. It begun in New York Central Park on Christmas Day in 1900, as the American Museum of Natural History scientist Frank Chapman posed an alternative to the traditional holiday “side hunt” (when teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds and small mammals).  Instead, Chapman proposed they “hunt” birds to identify, count, and record their numbers.

For three weeks thousands of bird enthusiasts like us will go out into nature and have an incredible experience enjoying the great outdoors while we count the birds in our area and help the Audubon, and the rest of the birding world, possibly save some bird species for future generations.

You don’t have to be an expert birder or really know anything about birds to help with the count.  Actually, you will learn so much about the species in your area by doing this count, it will amaze you.  You will be out with experienced people who will teach you many new things to help you enjoy the birds in your own backyard.

For information on bird counts in your area go to Audubon Christmas Bird Count to look up the counting circles near you by state.

If you really love birds and you want to help gather information that may help bird conservation for years to come, join a count circle.  You will be glad you did!

Have a great three weeks!  Go out and count some birds!  I’m a real lucky guy.  We have four CBCs close to where I live.  The Audubon Christmas Bird Count started Monday and goes until January 5th, 2010.