Bird Counts & Monitoring

Christmas Bird Count Great Backyard Bird Count

online database for your sightings Tutorial Overview & Brochures Christmas Bird Count Audubon Christmas Bird Count NM Christmas Bird Count Leaders & Schedule NM Christmas Bird Count Map Thank you for your dedicated participation in Audubon’s Christmas Bird Counts (CBC). As a CBC Leader and a citizen scientist, your contribution to conservation is deeply appreciated and contributes to the longest running wildlife census. (Thank You Letter from John Flicker, Audubon President ) The CBC began in 1900 and continues today due to dedicated volunteers like you. The CBC is an essential part of Audubon’s mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. As you know, the data collected by observers over the past century allow researchers, conservation biologists, and other interested individuals to study the long term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys, it provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed in time and space over the past. (How the Christmas Bird Count Helps Protect Species and Their Habitat ) Audubon is using CBC data to show trends in bird migration patterns pointing to impacts of climate change in the continental U.S. Christmas Bird Count FAQs 1. How is the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) conducted? 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 observers live within a CBC circle, they may arrange in advance to count the birds at their feeders and submit those data to their compiler. All individual CBC’s are conducted in the period from December 14 to January 5 (inclusive dates) each season, and each count is conducted in one calendar day. 2. Will I be doing this by myself? Do I have to be an experienced birder? CBC participants are organized into groups—or field parties—by the organizer or Compiler of each Count. Each field party covers a specific area of the 15-mile diameter circle on a specific route. And anyone is welcome to participate, since Compilers arrange field parties so that inexperienced observers are always out with seasoned CBC veterans. 3. Do I have to join a field party, or can I count the birds at my feeder? As long as you live within a designated CBC circle, you are welcome to count the birds at your feeder. All you’ll need to do is contact your local Compiler so that you may report your results on the Count Day. Please do so on the CBC Getting Involved page, or talk to a CBC leader in your area to find out how you can get involved

Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and is hosted every year in mid-February, usually around Valentine’s Day.
Great Backyard Bird Count Information

Count For Fun, Count For the Future
The next Great Backyard Bird Count will be held February 12-15, 2010.

Great Backyard Bird Count Family Kick-off Event
     Saturday, January 30, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
     REI at the Railyard, 500 Market Street, Santa Fe (Flyer )
Despite the cold outside, winter months still provide wonderful opportunities for families to get outside and connect with nature. Audubon New Mexico, along with several partners, will be hosting a free Family Event at REI in Santa Fe to kick off the Great Backyard Bird Count. Bring your family and learn how to discover and investigate the wonders of nature from the warmth of your home or at the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary. This event will include live birds, crafts for families, and door prizes like a $100 Audubon Summer Camp scholarship to celebrate the beginning of the count. The Great Backyard Bird Count is easy and it provides useful bird census information to scientists. Even if you only know a few bird species, you can help. The 13th annual count takes place Friday, February 12th through Monday, February 15th. Even 15 minutes counting birds can make a difference! Great Backyard Bird Count website
Great Backyard Bird Count Information

Great Backyard Bird Count Events
   Saturday, February 13th at the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary
Free Adult Bird Walk, 8:30–10:30 AM
   Come join dedicated birders. Youth over the age of 12 welcome.
Free Family and Youth Bird Count, 2:00–4:00 PM
   Everyone welcome!