steve_byland / Depositphotos.com
Fergus Falls, MN – For the 125th year, the National Audubon Society is organizing the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). On December 21st in the Fergus Falls area and on December 28th in the Battle Lake area, birders and nature enthusiasts will join this tradition.
“Birders of all ages and abilities are welcome to contribute to this fun, nationwide community science project, which provides ornithologists with a crucial snapshot of our native bird populations during the winter months,” stated Karen Terry, local resident and count coordinator. “There are several ways to participate: by car, on foot, and from the comfort of your home.”
Each individual count takes place in a 15-mile-wide circle and is led by a compiler responsible for safely organizing volunteers and submitting observations directly to Audubon. Within each circle, volunteers tally all birds seen or heard that day—not just the species but total numbers — to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population.
The volunteers break up into small groups and follow assigned routes, tallying every bird they observe. In addition, some people count birds that visit their backyard bird feeders that day instead of following routes. Volunteers count any time they wish during the day or night. In addition, birds not recorded on the count days but observed three days prior or three days after the count day can be included in the reported data.
Interested birders must arrange with the count compiler in advance to participate. To sign up for the Fergus Falls or Battle Lake counts, please contact Karen Terry at 218-770-9301. There is no fee to participate. For more information and to find additional counts, visit www.christmasbirdcount.org.
Data collected by participants over the years contribute to one of only two large existing pools of information notifying ornithologists and conservation biologists of what conservation action is required to protect birds and the places they need.
“The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is a great tradition and opportunity for everyone to be a part of more than 12 decades of community science in the name of protecting birds,” said Dr. Brooke Bateman, senior director of climate and community science for Audubon. “Your Christmas Bird Count observations help scientists discover trends about bird species that inform conservation. Ever since the first count in 1900, participating in the Audubon CBC has been a fun and meaningful way to spend time outdoors for anyone and everyone.”
The CBC is one of the longest-running wildlife censuses in the world, a community science project organized by the National Audubon Society in partnership with Birds Canada.
When combined with other surveys like the Breeding Bird Survey, the Audubon CBC provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years. The long-term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitat and helps identify environmental issues with implications for people as well. For example, in 2019, Science published a study using decades of Audubon CBC data and other datasets to describe a grim picture: a steady loss of nearly three billion North American birds since 1970. Over the years, Audubon CBC data have been used in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles.
Audubon CBC data are also used to measure how birds are already responding to climate change. A 2022 Audubon study used 90 years of Christmas Bird Count data to show how birds have shifted amid a century of major environmental changes. By tracking how bird ranges have moved over time, conservation efforts can be prioritized in areas that are important for birds today and in a climate-altered future. With two-thirds of North American bird species at increasing risk of extinction by the end of this century, Audubon CBC data is more important than ever for effective conservation.
Story courtesy of Audubon CBC.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
