Longest-running citizen science bird project to kick off
In just 12 days the longest-running citizen science bird project will kick off for the 118th consecutive year. It’s Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count and it’s an opportunity for anyone interested in local birds to contribute to a data collection.
We have a very dedicated and talented core group of birders in the area who will spend all day in the field participating in one or more of several area Christmas Counts. I look forward every year to the local Southern Lake Norman, Gastonia, and Charlotte counts; and, the coastal Wilmington and Southport / Bald Head Island counts. What a great way to spend a Carolina winter day.
It really is a simple set up; all the birds seen and identified in a 15-mile diameter circle are recorded and entered into a database. Participants are divided into enough groups to provide the most complete coverage of the circle. I’ll start at 5:30 or 6 in the morning and will go until dusk. Now, many casual birders might find the pace and commitment too rigorous go out into the field but anyone who has a feeder and knows a little something about area birds can help. While the main objective of the counts is to collect local bird population data, the game within the count is to try to find unusual or challenging species to pad the final species tally. Many times, these species are found patronizing feeders: orioles, hummingbirds, winter finches, a lingering warbler. That’s where you come in. If you have an odd or out-of-season bird at your feeders that’s perhaps something you cannot identify, let me know about it. It might turn out to be a common species, but it could be something truly special. Thanks to a sharp reader, a male summer tanager was tallied on the Charlotte Count, a super winter rarity last year. I already know of a very rare calliope hummingbird in southeast Charlotte. Fingers crossed this bird hangs until the Dec. 23 Charlotte count date.
If you think you have something unusual, particularly a hummer or oriole, try to get a photo and send it along to me. On count day I’ll make sure someone gets by to count it, or I’ll ask you to confirm its presence on count day through email or text.
For information on area Christmas Counts near you, go to www.audubon.org/join-christmas-bird-count.
Taylor Piephoff is a naturalist with an interest in the birds and wildlife of the southern Piedmont: PiephoffT@aol.com.
This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 2:46 PM with the headline "Longest-running citizen science bird project to kick off."