On December 14th, the Annual Christmas Bird Count ends on January 5. Volunteers from all over the Americas take part in this “adventure which has become a family custom among generations.” This annual event is attended by thousands. Since more than 100 years, the annual mission is a tradition. It is an annual mission that participants do because they love nature and want to make a positive difference. On its website, the National Audubon Society stated that “each citizen scientist who braves snow, wind or rain to participate in the Christmas Bird Count makes a tremendous contribution to conservation. Audubon and others use the data from this longest-running wildlife count to evaluate the health and guide conservation actions. Source: How the Christmas Bird Count Helps Birds, National Audubon Society. The Society said that everyone who participates in the Christmas Bird Count is a bird lover and enjoys the friendly competition. The count provides data about bird population across the Western Hemisphere for conservation biology. There are thousands of Count Circle team members involved. Each count is done by a 10-person group of people working within a “count circles” of 14 miles (24 kilometers (diameter). A ‘compiler” manages the team. The team is divided into smaller groups and follows the assigned routes. They count every bird that they encounter. Some people prefer to watch feeders than follow routes in most count circles. Since the 100 year, Bird Count Circle Teams have been out each holiday season. (Photo by Audobon Magazine). The Society emphasizes that counts are only estimates and not as precise as human censuses. For instance, numbers for large flocks of birds can be counted but the observer cannot make an accurate guess. According to the National Audobon Society, the information it collected over 100 years from observers has allowed researchers and conservation biologists to better understand the long-term status and health of the bird population across Europe. The Society states that when combined with other surveys like the Breeding Bird Survey it gives a clear picture of the evolution in bird population over time and space.
