Bird lovers' alert: Audubon's Christmas Bird Count is underway

December 17, 5:22 PMGardening ExaminerRobin Ripley

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The Audubon Society's 109th Christmas Bird Count
runs from December 14 through January 5. (Evening
grosbeak, photo by Robin Wedewer)

If you're bird lover--or just like hanging around with bird lovers--it's not too late to register to participate in the Audubon Society's 109th Christmas Bird Count.

The Christmas Bird Count is the birding world's equivalent of a census. It is organized to count every bird seen or heard for a 24-hour period within a designated 15-mile diameter.

It takes armies of volunteers--both experienced birders and novices--to cover all the territories included in the count, which extends from December 14 through January 5. Thousands of these citizen scientists form the front line in this massive data collection project to gauge the long-term health and status of bird populations in North America.

The Christmas Bird Count was founded in 1900 as an alternative to the traditional "side hunts," in which hunters competed to shoot as many birds as they could. The group with the most dead birds won the event. Happily, side hunts have been replaced with the Christmas Bird Count, engaging thousands of people in a healthy outdoor activity--particularly for the birds.

Volunteers usually join field parties organized by a local compiler for their particular count circles. Experience is not required since field parties are mixed to include experienced birders as well as novices. You can also count birds at your feeder as long as you contact your local compiler to ensure you're registered and counting on the right day.

To learn more about participating and to register for a count in your area, click here.