The Christmas Bird Count has begun. For 118 years, the National Audubon Society has been organizing its annual Christmas Bird Count.
Between December 14th and January 5th, tens of thousands of bird-loving volunteers will participate in counts across the Western Hemisphere. The data collected by participants continues to help ornithologists and conservation biologists understand what conservation action is required to protect birds and the places they need. Last year’s count included a record-setting 2,536 count circles, with 1,933 counts in the United States, 447 in Canada and 156 in Latin America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Pacific Islands. Results can be found here.
To learn more about the Christmas Bird Count, its history, results from previous years, how to participate and more, visit: http://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count
In California you can contact your local chapter to find out more about a Christmas Bird Count near your or join them for an upcoming meeting or field trip. The Audubon Center at Debs Park is holding a Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December 16th, 2017. Please keep in mind, many counts reach their capacity quickly.
If you aren’t able to take part in a count this season there are plenty of other ways to get involved with Audubon and take part in community science throughout the year.
Audubon California conducts surveys and monitors bird populations for the Brown Pelican, Black Oystercatcher, and Tricolored Blackbird throughout the year. At Starr Ranch Sanctuary in Orange County there are also opportunities to take part in songbird monitioring, bird banding and other wildlife monitoring; visit this page to learn more. At our Richardson Bay Center in Tiburon winter waterbird surveys are currently underway.
The Christmas Bird Count is far from the only opportunity for you to be involved. Go on a bird walk with your local chapter or at a nearby Audubon Center or sign up to volunteer. Or just grab a friend and go birding. You can download Audubon’s free bird guide app or checkout the online guide in Spanish or English.
Click below to learn more about our volunteering at a center or sanctuary in California:
Southern California:
The Audubon Center at Debs Park in Los Angeles
Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary in Orange County
Audubon Kern River Preserve in Kern County
Northern California:
Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary in Marin County
