‘Tis the season to be jolly, because it is Christmas Bird Count time. In 1900, 113 years ago, the Carolina Parakeet, Passenger Pigeon, Eskimo Curlew and other species were either extinct or in serious peril of becoming so. It was a fad back then to have a Christmas day “side hunt,” and the team with the biggest pile of dead birds won! Scientists and observers were becoming increasingly aware of declining bird populations, so that year, Frank Chapman organized the first census of birds with 25 bird counts across the US and Canada. In this way the objective changed from killing birds to counting their species and estimating their numbers. Ninety species were tallied from all 25 count circles combined, and so the tradition began. Today there are approximately 2,000 Christmas Bird Counts (CBC’s) annually.
A “count circle” is a 15-mile diameter circle usually divided into eight or ten areas with a team leader in each area. The final tally is done by the count leader, or compiler. A 15-mile diameter circle is 176 square miles, so it is a lot of area to cover with eight to ten teams. Quite competitive, the count with the highest number of total species wins.
Santa Barbara, California is always high on the list as is Cape May, New Jersey, but the 1970’s and 1980’s winner year after year was the Freeport, Texas CBC, usually tallying over 200 species. In the early 1990’s there was a new kid on the block, Mad Island Marsh, Texas. Their CBC blew all other U.S. counts away with 236 total species, and has held the lead ever since. There are over 40 CBCs conducted south of the border. With greater species diversity in the tropics, most of these counts show greater total species, yet fewer total birds.
I usually participate in two CBCs: Nogales and Patagonia. These two counts happen before Christmas Day and both counts usually tally in the 150’s for number of species. It’s always fun. Michael Bissontz is the Nogales count compiler and I am a leader whose area is Lake Patagonia and the neighborhood surrounding the lake. We usually count about 100 to 110 species just in my area. Abbie Zeltzer is compiler for the Patagonia count. I am just a participant in this count and have more fun than an area leader or compiler because I have no additional responsibilities.
One does not have to be an ornithologist or an expert birder to take part in a CBC. Amateur birders with all skill levels contribute their sightings to assist in showing changes in range and population trends, the real science of ornithology. So I welcome anyone who would like to join my area in the Nogales CBC. Initially, we freeze while canvassing the lake at first light. Then we cover the upstream drainage of Sonoita Creek on foot. I promise good birding and a lot of fun. For more information, I can be reached at 520-988-0155.