News & Events > Press Releases >
Matt Kirchhoff
907/276-7034
Hundreds of Volunteers to Join Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count in Alaska
Holiday Tradition Yields Vital Data for Conservation
Anchorage, AK, December 12, 2008—Birdwatchers from Bethel to Belize will spend part of their holiday season battling the winter elements to look for birds in the great outdoors. The longest running citizen science event in the world, Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count starts December 14, 2008, and in Alaska an estimated 35 local counts will take place from Kotzebue to Ketchikan. Information gathered will help scientists learn more about how birds are faring throughout North America, adding to over a century of data collected by previous generations of volunteers.
Scientists rely on Christmas Bird Count data to assess bird numbers and distribution and to identify birds in need of conservation action. “Every Christmas Bird Count participant plays a critical role in helping us monitor bird distribution and abundance in Alaska,” said Matt Kirchhoff, Audubon Alaska’s Director of Bird Conservation. “The count is also helpful in developing Audubon Alaska’s WatchList, which identifies declining and vulnerable species in Alaska in need of conservation help.”
Last year, 914 volunteers in Alaska counted more than 130,000 individual birds in 34 local counts, ranging from Unalaska and Tenakee Springs to Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay. Across the Western Hemisphere, volunteers organize Christmas Bird Counts in all 50 states, every Canadian province, parts of Central and South America, Bermuda, the West Indies, and Pacific Islands.
“Many people make the Christmas Bird Count a holiday tradition,” said Stan Senner, Audubon Alaska’s Executive Director. “Every year I go to Seward with my wife and sons to count birds the Saturday before Christmas. It’s a rewarding and relaxing family activity and a great way to introduce kids to nature.”
The Anchorage count drew more than 130 participants last year, making it the largest count in the state and 23rd in North America in terms of participants. For many years, the Bohemian Waxwings has been the most numerous species reported statewide with a record 13,591 reported last year! Alaska is usually one of the only U.S. locations reporting Willow Ptarmigan and Spruce Grouse.
The Christmas Bird Count began over a century ago when the founder of Audubon magazine, Frank Chapman, changed the course of ornithological history. In 1900, Chapman led a small group on an alternative to the “side hunt,” when teams competed to see who could shoot the most game. Instead, Chapman proposed they identify, count, and record all the birds they saw, founding what is now considered to be the world's most significant citizen-based conservation effort.
The Christmas Bird Count welcomes new participants and volunteers. To find the date of your local count, click here, or contact Taldi Walter by phone 907-276-7034, or email.
Alaska press contacts:
Matt Kirchhoff, Audubon Alaska: 907-276-7034, email
Stan Senner, Audubon Alaska: 907-276-7034, email
For local press contacts and recording opportunities in the field, contact:
Taldi Walter, Audubon Alaska: 907-276-7034, email
# # #
|
