Whether you simply love watching wild birds eat at your feeder or you want to give back to science, the Christmas Bird Count is the perfect way to do both for the sake of birds.
The modern Christmas Bird Count, which began in the late 1800s by ornithologist Frank Chapman, aims to use bird lovers across North America to count birds and collect data for science. And this year, Audubon has announced that the Christmas Bird Count is free for the first time ever.
Instead of having to pay $5 to contribute to the longest-running bird census, you can now register for free. I hope this means significantly more people will take part this year.
The way it works is between December 14 and January 5, small groups usually gather in a specific area and they take a census of the species they see. People who live inside the 15-mile diameter of the count circle can also document birds at their feeders.
Overall, it’s a really fantastic experience to have with your children or relatives because it helps them fully engage with nature and feel like they are really giving back. If you need more reasons why you should participate, check out my post from last year’s count.
The data you collect isn’t just looked at superficially either. Ornithologists partnered with Audubon fully analyze the data for trends and anomalies.
Now with the $5 fee waived this year, you don’t have an excuse not to participate.
