Dan's Gardening and Birding Blog: Bird Watching Season is Underway/Christmas Bird Count

Welcome back. I've been busy over the last 3 or 4 weeks with fall projects around the house including final yard cleanup and getting ready for Thanksgiving.

In my last post on November 4th, 2015, I wrote in detail about Project FeederWatch (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2015/11/its-time-for-project-feederwatch.html). It is a citizen science project which started on November 14th and runs though April 8th. If you enjoy feeding and watching birds, this is a great project to participate in. The cost is only $18 which includes a research packet and calendar. This also makes a great holiday gift idea.

So far this season, I would say that the numbers are down, both the species and overall bird numbers. This is most likely due to the mild weather we have experienced thus far in November, and no snow cover to date. I have seen an increase in the number of species/total bird counts over the last three weeks. Once the cold weather settles in and we get snow on the ground, the birds will be out in force.

Blue Jay at Work

For those of you looking for a different bird watching project this time of the year, there is also the Christmas Bird count. This is not only sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Bird Studies Canada, but also by Audubon. This count is different in that it usually involves travelling to a designated location (circles) near your home. Counting is done with a group of people. For more information visit http://www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count.

From the website:

Prior to the turn of the 20th century, people engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas "Side Hunt": They would choose sides and go afield with their guns; whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.

Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. 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.

All Christmas Bird Counts are conducted between December 14 to January 5, inclusive dates, each season. Your local count will occur on one day between those dates. Participate in as many counts as you wish!
How does participation work?

There is a specific methodology to the CBC, and all participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle compiler within an established circle, but anyone can participate.

Each count takes place in an established 15-mile wide diameter circle, and is organized by a count compiler. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting 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.

If you are a beginning birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.

If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you have made prior arrangement with the count compiler. Check out the sign-up link above during the sign-up season for information on how to contact the compiler.
See additional questions about CBC participation below.

Below is a video about the Christmas Bird count: