Join the Christmas Bird Count: Audubon’s 123rd Christmas Bird Count will be held from Dec 14, 2022 to January 5, 2023! Sign up here.
The Christmas Bird Count occurs December 14 to January 5 every season. Frank Chapman and 26 other conservationists initiated the Christmas Bird Count (CBC.) It began as a way of promoting conservation by counting, rather than hunting, birds on Christmas Day of 1900. Some counts have been running every year since then and the CBC now happens in over 20 countries in the western hemisphere! Read about the history here.
Now a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society, with over 120 years of community science involvement, it is an early-winter bird census, where thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada (where Audubon partners with Birds Canada), and many countries in the Western Hemisphere go out over a 24-hour period on one calendar day to count birds.
Participation is free. However, you will need to provide your own transportation, binoculars and weather appropriate clothing.
There is a specific methodology to the CBC, and all participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle compiler but the CBC is open to all!
Each count takes place in an established 15-mile diameter circle, and is organized by a count compiler. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle. They count every bird they see or hear all day. It’s not just a species tally! All birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day.
Birders of all skill sets are involved in the CBC. If you are a beginning birder, your compiler will pair you with an expert initially.
Learn more here!
In conclusion, visit Birds & Beasley’s for all your birding needs.