How to join the Christmas Bird Count and what first-timers need to know

There is most likely a National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count nearby if you are anywhere between December 14 and January 5. Devoted birdwatchers go to multiple locations, either by car or airplane, in hopes of catching glimpses of elusive birds.

About 47 groups will join the campaign in Oregon alone. Get in touch with your local chapter’s Christmas Bird Count organizer. For example, you will see counts in Medford and Burns on December 14. For more information, visit BirdAlliance.org. The Portland count is scheduled for January 4.

While experience is not required, volunteers are sought to assist with information gathering. Here are some suggestions to assist newcomers experience the thrill of walking through fields, along beaches, and on mountain routes while also supporting an important community research project:


  • Read about

    Audubon s Christmas Bird Count

    (CBC) and contact an

    Audubon chapter

    area leader organizing a count in advance to volunteer as a feeder watcher, if you live within a designated count circle and agree to tally the birds seen on CBC day, or become a field observer alongside experienced birders, said Dawn Villaescusa of

    Seven Capes Bird Alliance

    in Lincoln City.


  • Practice

    finding birds by listening

    and looking at exposed perches snags, power lines, fence posts, treetops and scanning fields, mudflats, lakes, beaches and other open areas

    using binoculars

    . If possible, scout your sector in advance and look on Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology s

    eBird

    , a free, online platform for recording bird observations and tracking sightings, to see what s been seen in the area.


  • Identify birds with the help of Audubon s

    Guide to North American Birds

    or Cornell Lab s

    Merlin Bird ID app

    , powered by

    eBird

    . Brush up on resident birds that stay here year-round, and get a sense of what you might see on the count, said Joe Liebezeit, who is in charge of the Bird Alliance of Oregon s annual Christmas Bird Count.


  • Check the weather and dress in layers to be comfortable all day. Be prepared for wind and rain, and wear real rain gear or you ll be soaked, said Villaescusa.

    Rite in the Rain

    and other weatherproof notebooks can help keep data dry.


  • Pack snacks and carry water. It s a long day, said Villaescusa, and some area leads don t want to stop for lunch.

  • You may be dirty at the end of the day. Bring clean, dry clothes and shoes to change into for the get together. The camaraderie is totally worth attending the post-count party, said Villaescusa, whose group puts on a breakfast and a count-down chili and beer dinner. It s fun getting together and feeling you re adding value to the information that s out there.

  • Realize that while the

    social aspects of the annual count

    are the glue that holds the whole tradition together and while there are times to talk, you ll be expected to be quiet while listening for birds. Unlike guided bird walks designed for beginners, where people will drop back and chat about their sister s brother s cousin or recipes, and may not even see a bird, you can t do that on bird count day, said Villaescusa.


  • Upload your photos and see photos posted from other participates at the

    CBC Live tracker

    at

    gis.audubon.org/cbclive

    . Photographing

    birds is challenging

    as they move in a lake, into a tree, across a field.

    Field biologist and photographer Frank Lospalluto

    said: Know your camera, feel confident using it, and make sure the battery is charged and the memory card has space. Many cameras today work exceptionally well on auto.


  • Sign up at

    act.audubon.org/a/community-science-signup

    to see the results in Audubon s American Birds newsletter and learn about other volunteer opportunities such as Climate Watch and

    The Great Backyard Bird Count

    .


  • Don t be intimidated by

    people who have more experience

    than you do, said Liebezeit. This is about being outdoors, meeting new friends, learning and having fun.

Janet Eastman writes on trends and design. You can follow her on X@janeteastman and contact her at 503-294-4072 and [email protected].

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