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Christmas Bird Count
By Melissa Renfro
This year's Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will mark
the second year of the second century that volunteers will count
and record every individual bird and bird species encountered
during one 24 hour calendar day. Volunteers count in all 50 states,
every Canadian province, parts of Central and South America, the
West Indies, and the Pacific islands. Each count group has a designated
circle 15 miles (24 km) in diameter, about 177 square miles (285
km2), where participants try to cover as much ground as possible.
The Snake Valley Count Circle includes: Great Basin National Park
Visitor Center, residential and picnic areas; Grey Cliffs; Pole,
Can Young, Young, Snake, Big Wash, and Lexington drainages; the
town of Baker; about one mile (1.6 km) up the short-cut road from
Hwy 487; the fish hatchery; the town of Garrison; 4¾ miles (7.6
km) north on Utah 159 from Garrison towards the Border Inn, 2¾
(4.4 km) miles up the Ferguson Trail from Hwy 159; part of the
Burbank Hills; and Pruess Reservoir.
The CBC tradition began on Christmas Day 1900, when
27 conservationists decided to protest the traditional holiday
'side hunt', in which teams competed to see who could shoot the
most birds and animals in one day. Today there are almost 2000
count circles, with more than 50,000 people participating either
in the field or watching feeders. The CBC is well ensconced as
THE ICON for the study of early winter bird distribution, and
coverage now extends from above the Arctic Circle to southern
South America. Beginning last year, all CBC results are handled
via online data entry. Researchers and others can access the site
at the BirdSource website , a cooperative
project of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory
of Ornithology.
Last year, despite often inclement conditions, 54,788,215
birds of 689 species plus 39 forms were tallied in the U.S. and
Canada. A total of 1796 species were tallied outside the US and
Canada. Studies on CBC data will document long-term bird population
trends, changes in species' distribution, long-term patterns of
dispersal of invasive species, as well as the general health of
our environment. The data contained within the 102-year span of
the Christmas Bird Count are the ultimate tool for both conservationists
and ornithologists to learn the status of early winter bird populations
on a continental level. Just a few of the discoveries from last
year's counts include the fact that Northern Bobwhite numbers
continue to plummet while Wild Turkeys are reclaiming the continent
with great vigor; for the first time in years, a California Condor
was counted, at Silver Reef, Utah; and dry conditions in the west
may have accounted for a movement into the lowlands and eastward
of some western species, such as Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay,
and Black-headed Grosbeak.
As the longest running ornithological database,
the Christmas Bird Count continues to grow in importance as a
means to monitor the status of resident and migratory bird populations
across the western hemisphere. The seventh annual Snake Valley
CBC is planned for 3 January 2002. Experienced AND INEXPERIENCED
volunteers are needed! Participants over 18 contribute a $5.00
fee to cover a small portion of the costs of management, data
compilation, and publication of the CBC results. For a list of
birds seen on previous Snake Valley CBCs, a map of the Snake Valley
CBC circle, or further details about participating in the count
this year, contact Melissa Renfro, Monday thru Wednesday at the
Resource Management Division - 234-7331 ext 228, or at home at
234-7154. Bird lists for Great Basin National Park and vicinity,
as well as wildlife lists and forms for reporting exciting sightings
of any animal, can be obtained at the visitor center front desk.
Midden
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