Fifty Evening Grosbeaks and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
A century-old Christmas tradition still brings joy to those who participate — and helps conservationists help the birds they watch.
It’s that time of year again, the time when we sing songs about jingle bells, roasting chestnuts and partridges in pear trees, when our homes and towns twinkle with brightly colored lights, and when thousands of people all over the country go outside to count birds during a 24-hour period called the Christmas Bird Count (CBC).
What, you may ask, does counting birds have to do with Christmas?
In 1900, many people were becoming concerned about declining bird populations and were beginning to advocate for conservation. That same year, ornithologist Frank Chapman started a new Christmas tradition — counting birds instead of hunting them. As you can see, 117 years later, that tradition continues, and I invite you to be a part of it.
My First Christmas Bird Count
It was 1984. I had just moved to New Mexico. Although I had been fascinated by birds all my life, especially in winter, I was unfamiliar with western bird species. Growing up in Asheville, North Carolina, I had spent countless hours filling the bird feeder outside the kitchen window and then watching as the winter birds visited in small flocks, noisy and voracious. There was one large finch, the Evening Grosbeak, that particularly impressed me.
But now that I lived in the West, I was in need of a crash course on western birds. When I saw an announcement for a local Audubon Christmas Bird Count, I thought it might provide a quick introduction to the birds of New Mexico.
Though the day was cold, our intrepid group of five wandered around our assigned area for eight hours — watching, listening and counting. Towards the end of the day, I finally heard a familiar sound, the call of the Evening Grosbeak. Since we hadn’t seen any of them all day, our leader was somewhat dismissive of my identification — until a flock of about 50 flew up over a rise in front of us.
I was hooked!
Since then I’ve participated in more than 100 Christmas Bird Counts, sometimes doing as many as six or more during the three-week counting season. In addition to participating in a number of local events, I now organize the annual count in Clayton, New Mexico, compiling and submitting the data to Audubon, and review data submissions from other counts in New Mexico.
Yes, I’m a Bird Nerd
As you can see, I’m a bit of a bird nerd (or a lot, depending on whom you ask). I still enjoy watching birds, but, for me, this holiday tradition is about much more than simply watching and counting birds. I also am intrigued by the bird population trends in my area, in my state, and across the region.
Collecting data about bird numbers and locations is one of the easiest ways to keep tabs on what is occurring in our natural world. Bird species are easy to detect and easy to count — exactly what a Christmas Bird Count is designed to do. When done in a consistent and replicable fashion, it can provide extraordinary data.
Remember those Evening Grosbeaks I watched at my feeder in North Carolina? They’ve now virtually disappeared from that area in winter. Here are two sets of counts from the Buncombe County CBC: 10 years when I was living there (1972–1982) and the past 20 years (1996–2015). Sightings of the Purple Finch have also decreased dramatically, while the House Finch, which wasn’t seen during the earlier counts, now has a big winter presence in the area.
This kind of data is invaluable for helping ornithologists understand what is happening to birds in North America. In some areas, data on the number and location of wintering birds has been collected since 1900. When combined with other bird surveys, the data provides a picture of how the continent’s bird populations have changed over the past hundred years. Once we know which birds are in trouble, we can work on conservation solutions needed to protect birds and their habitats. This long-term perspective not only helps us conserve birds, but also helps to identify environmental issues that affect people.
Give It a Try
You don’t have to be a bird nerd like me to participate in a Christmas Bird Count. In fact, it’s a great opportunity to learn about birds in your area and how to identify them. There is no fee to participate, and counts are open to birders of all skill levels. Those who are unsure of their ability to identify birds are usually paired with someone who knows a great deal.
If you’ve never participated in a count before, here’s a few tips to help you get started.
- To sign up for a Christmas Bird Count, find a local event and contact the compiler. He or she will want to know your abilities and how long you are able to count. Usually, folks count for a half or full day.
- You’ll be assigned to an area leader, who will let you know where and when to meet.
- Counting events usually begin early in the morning and can last till sunset. Some events conclude with dinner or a meeting where folks recount happenings from the day and what birds they saw.
- Be prepared for cold weather, bring a pair of binoculars, and ask your leader whether you should bring a lunch with you.
- Have fun, and don’t be surprised if you get hooked on this Christmas tradition!
Find an Event Near You
Each year, between December 14 and January 5, bird-loving volunteers take part in the longest-running wildlife census in the world. If you are going to be in northeastern New Mexico for the holidays, come join me for the Clayton Christmas Bird Count on Thursday, December 29, 2016. For more information about the event or to sign up, email me at chrustay@gmail.com (up until December 27).
For those who will be near Denver, Colorado, consider participating in one of the Christmas Bird Counts hosted by Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, a PLJV board member and one of our many conservation partners. Both events below will be held at the Barr Lake State Park in Brighton, Colorado.
- Barr Lake Christmas Bird Count
January 2, 2017
Event details - 5th Annual Christmas Bird Count for Kids (CBC4Kids)
January 16, 2017, 9 a.m. — 2 p.m.
Event details and registration
To learn more about Christmas Bird Counts elsewhere in our region and participate in this holiday tradition, visit www.christmasbirdcount.org.
By Christopher Rustay, PLJV Conservation Delivery Leader and self-proclaimed bird nerd.
