Christmas Bird Count: Annual bird census reveals numbers, trends
The Christmas Bird Count takes place from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5, and can include data from those looking at bird feeders in their back yards or from those birding in the field. (Photo by Audubon Pennsylvania)
This Tufted Titmouse was spotted during the recent Christmas Bird Count.
It’s a tradition that’s going on 118 years old this month. Every December since 1900, conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts have taken part in an annual Christmas Bird Count.
A historic program with the National Audubon Society, the CBC is essentially a bird census that takes place from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5. Thousands of volunteers document bird sightings in that time frame, whether it’s on an outdoor hike or bird watching, or from their kitchen window, watching the various birds on a feeder.
Steve Saffier, a program manager with Bird Friendly Communities, with Audubon Pennsylvania, said the goal of the bird count is to collect a “snapshot of bird numbers (populations) which is then compared to previous years to determine trends.”
According to a report from the Audubon Society, prior to the count’s inception at the turn of the 20th century, hunters took part in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas “Side Hunt,” in which they would attempt to bring back the largest harvest of feathered and furred quarry.
“Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition — a ‘Christmas Bird Census’ that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them,” their website states.
At the time, there were 27 dedicated birders that conducted 25 bird counts from areas as far north as Toronto, Ontario, to as far south as the Pacific Grove in California.
“Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this long-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations, and to help guide conservation action,” the website noted.
Because it takes place at the beginning of the winter season, Saffier said it’s interesting to note the birds that come down from Canada.
“These birds, often referred to collectively as ‘northern finches,’ include Purple Finches, Common Redpoll, White-winged Crossbills, Pine Siskins and others,” Saffier said. “[They] are barometers of food availability in the northern forests. Their presence indicates a down year in regard to food mast (seeds, nuts, buds, etc.) in the north while their absence indicates a good year for food resources.”
“Similarly, if Snowy Owls show up in the United States, chances are the lemming population in the Artic was a cyclical high and more young were produced,” Saffier added. “Many of those young birds (and some adults) end up flying further south and might end up in a CBC Circle — and that is exciting for birders and non-birders alike.”
Though this year’s count is just about wrapped up, Saffier said that anyone can get involved and join officials compilers” who are in charge of designated “count circles” that are roughly 15 miles in diameter.
It’s what they call a citizen science program. The collected data helps biologists track trends in bird populations and identify threats, Saffier said, adding that the Audubon Society has more than 400 chapters across the country.
It’s not too late to get involved in an upcoming bird census, though, that might intrigue home bird watchers. Saffier said the Great Backyard Bird Count, which runs Feb. 16-19, can be conducted from inside your home while observing your backyard and bird feeders.
If increasing bird sightings is of interest, Saffier said they have a recently launched an online tool that allows people to “plug in their ZIP code and receive information about the specific native plants that they can use to create a bird garden or bird habitat around their home, school or workplace.”
That information can be found at www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds.