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Firelands Audubon
Christmas Bird Count
When does the count happen?
All Christmas Bird Counts (CBCs) are conducted between December 14 to January 5, inclusive dates, each season. Your local count will occur on one day between those dates. Participate in as many counts as you wish!
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This year's CBC date is:
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December 14, 2024
How does participation work?
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There is a specific methodology to the CBC, and all participants must make arrangements to participate in advance with the circle compiler within an established circle, but anyone can participate.
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Each count takes place in an established 15-mile wide diameter circle, and is organized by a count compiler. Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile (24-km) diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day. It's not just a species tally—all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of the total number of birds in the circle that day.
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If you are a beginner birder, you will be able to join a group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.
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If your home is within the boundaries of a CBC circle, then you can stay at home and report the birds that visit your feeder on count day as long as you have made prior arrangement with the count compiler.
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This full day of birding is a wonderful tradition, a great example of citizen science and a lot of fun to participate in.
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If you are interested in joining our CBC please send us an email (firelandsaudubon@gmail.com) and we will get you the appropriate information. ​​
The totals for the 2023 CBC can be found here.
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From Compiler, Morgan Drabik-Hamshare
"Thank you to the 22 field observers, 5 feeder watchers, and countless count week observers for a productive 124th Christmas Bird Count (CBC) in the Firelands circle. Our count was held Saturday December 16th, 2023 and was the warmest count on record with an average max temperature of 53°F across the circle.
A total of 20,983 individuals were seen across 81 species, which was more individuals and 1 more species seen than in 2022 on count day. We saw an additional 6 species only during count week and not on count day. One of these species, Greater Yellowlegs, observed at the Cedar Point Chaussee was a new species for count week and would have been a new species for count day if it had been relocated.
In the evening, we had a lovely meal (thank you Barbara Wagner and Panera Bread) and enjoyed discussing a full day of birding. We recorded high counts of six species: Common Grackle (302), Great Blue Heron (166), Pied-billed Grebe (7), Killdeer (36), American Green-winged Teal (10), and Pileated Woodpecker (6)."
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