Bird-Lovers’ Holiday Treat: The Audubon Bird Count
A
s holiday activities get into full swing on the Suncoast, it’s time to enjoy an annual tradition — the Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. The longest-running citizen scientist survey in the world, the 2020 count will take place from December 14 through January 5 and all Suncoast bird lovers are welcome to participate. As a volunteer, you can experience the beauty of nature and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow counters while doing important research that helps America’s bird population.
Helping Bird and Human Populations
The first Christmas Bird Count took place on Christmas Day, 1900. Concerned about declining bird populations, Frank Chapman, Audubon Society officer and ornithologist, organized a bird census. A meager group of 27 participants counted 18,000 individual birds and 89 species from every corner of the U.S. and started a tradition that has continued every year since. Today’s Christmas Bird Count involves more than 50,000 volunteers every year, including many on the Suncoast. The final tallies provide critical data in the study of bird populations and aid in devising
strategies to protect birds and their habitat. Also, since bird populations are an indicator of the overall health of our environment, these counts help the human population as well.
How to Participate
For more information on how to participate in this year’s Christmas Bird Count, go to audubon.org.
