The Audubon Christmas Bird Count helps people learn more about birds and how to protect them. The bird count started on December 14 being a citizen science event. This annual gathering dated back at least a hundred years ago. The event was initiated by the National Audubon Society attracting numerous volunteers across Canada, the US and many other countries in the West.
- Residents learn to protect birds during the annual Christmas Bird Count.
- This year it is the 117th edition of the event which takes place in Audubon.
- Before this tradition was enabled, locals used to organize a bird hunting.
Volunteers are excited to find new species of birds and to learn more about how they should protect them. Annually, the bird census begins in November when volunteers for the Christmas Bird Count sign up on the Audubon website. Between December 15 and January 5th, thousands of bird watchers ignore the terrible weather conditions to develop the census.
On Wednesday, December 14 it has started the 117th edition of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. This event relies on the help and dedication of numerous volunteers who will be able to take part in many bird counts. This year, it was designed a map of the circles, helping bird watchers determine a count in the proximity of their location.
Apparently, there is no online registration to fill in for the 117th edition of the event and those who volunteer to help need to follow the circles on the map to direct them to different sites where they can observe and count birds. A count compiler usually establishes 15-mile-wide diameter circles created for volunteers.
The volunteers are prone to count every bird which they hear or see during the day. The numbers are meant to establish how many birds are encountered in the designated circles. What is more, the CBC requested for a lot of areas to be covered. Thus, single-birdwatcher counts are prohibited. A fascinating idea was lately revealed. Before these bird counts were organized, there used to be the Christmas “side hunts.”
The tradition had hunters who were usually racing to kill birds during the winter holiday season, fighting to win the best hunter’s award. Nevertheless, the risk of extinction which threatened many species determined scientists and observers to transform this hunting tradition into a conservation one, where people came to help.
Frank M. Chapman, an ornithologist and officer of the newly formed Audubon Society, was the one who fueled the idea of the new tradition.
Image source: wikipedia
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