Christmas Bird Counts Scheduled in Local Communities

December 4, 2018 - The arrival of December heralds a multitude of holiday traditions and festive celebrations.  Among the traditions for birding enthusiasts is the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC), when intrepid observers throughout the western hemisphere take to the field for one day to make a record of all the birds they see and hear.

Organized by ornithologist Frank Chapman of the American Museum of Natural History in 1900 as an alternative to Christmas Day side hunts, an English shooting tradition, the first Christmas Bird Count was held in 25 U. S. locations and attracted 27 participants.  Held every year since then, the Audubon-sponsored CBC is now an international event, with more than 2,000 individual counts scattered across the Americas and drawing thousands of volunteers.
Acorn Woodpeckers are among the many avian species that will likely be observed in the five upcoming local Christmas Bird Counts in the Yosemite/central Sierra area. Photo credit: Vernon Johnson

This year will mark the 119th CBC, the longest-running citizen-science project in the world.

The CBC protocols are rigorous and precise.  Each count must be held during a single-day 24-hour period between December 14 and January 5 within a prescribed 15-mile diameter circle.  A compiler organizes and coordinates each count, tallies numbers, provides guidance as needed and assures all protocols are met to protect the integrity of the long-term database.

Birding experience is not necessary to participate in these counts.  All eyes and ears are welcome.

Five Christmas Bird Counts are scheduled in the central Sierra foothill area this year, as follows:

The Mariposa CBC will occur Saturday, December 15.  Contact Len McKenzie at (209) 769-0566 or lenmckenzie@yahoo.com for more information and to get instructions and assignments to specific zones within the Mariposa count circle.  (Please note that participants will not assemble in town for a pre-count meeting that morning, as in previous years, but rather will go directly to their assigned areas to meet their party leaders.)

The Yosemite CBC, started in 1932, is slated for the following day, Sunday, December 16.  Prospective counters should contact Sarah Stock, sarah_stock@nps.gov, to register and receive zone assignments for the Yosemite count.

The Lost Lake CBC in Fresno County will be held Saturday, December 29.  Visit FresnoAudubon.org for details.

The Merced National Wildlife Refuge CBC will occur on Thursday, January 3, 2019.  Contact Larry Parmeter, lanpar362@gmail.com, for additional information and instructions.

The Oakhurst CBC will take place Saturday, January 5, 2019.  Participants should meet at the Burger King in Oakhurst at 7:00 a.m. that day for instructions and zone assignments.  Call (559) 760-6327 or email Vernon Johnson at roygbiv@nctv.com for more information.

Count coordinators emphasize that birding experience is not required to participate in a Christmas Bird Count.  All levels of experience are encouraged to join.

Article contributed by Len McKenzie, YAAS