Why Count Birds?
As the holiday season approaches, volunteers across the country will celebrate the gift of natural wonder by taking part in the Annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC). Administered by the National Audubon Society, the event is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world. For many, counting winter birds has become a family tradition. Holiday spirit and love of birds has compelled generations - and now invites us- to don the cap of citizen scientist and contribute to conservation.
The Christmas Bird Count was started by Frank Chapman and other conservationists on Christmas Day of 1900. Over the years, the effort has evolved into a valuable tool for monitoring winter bird populations in North America. The CBC database, containing over 100 years of data, is accessible to the public and provides critical information for perusal or scientific research. Data gathered by caring citizens will inform policies that protect endangered populations and crucial habitats. Educational outreach can help individuals or organizations make informed decisions about conservation. The Audubon Society lists the following three goals for the CBC:
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Engage citizens in gathering information.
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Empower citizens to take action on behalf of places important to them and important to wildlife.
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Foster a new culture of conservation
The Audubon Society's Bird and Climate Change Analysis drew on CBC data to show how the ranges of birds are shifting. The report was so compelling that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) listed the Christmas Bird Count as a primary indicator of climate change.
Gathering Data
Both park visitors and rangers contribute to a scientific record of the park's winter bird populations by participating in the count. Every year, the count takes place within a 15-mile diameter circle surrounding the park area. A general summary of CBC statistics is given in the table below, and more detailed reports are accessed at the Audubon website (Bryce Canyon's Count Code is UTBC).
Ninety different birds have been recorded in the species list for the Bryce CBC circle. In 2020 two dusky grouse and an acorn woodpecker were seen for the first time during a count.
