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Spend a day with the birds

Christmas bird counts ongoing throughout Georgia

Spend a day with the birds this holiday season by participating in the 105th National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count, an annual hemispheric early-winter bird census. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division celebrates its 34th year of participation in the Christmas Bird Count. This year's Georgia Christmas Bird Counts take place Dec. 14-Jan. 2 across the state and will give biologists a snapshot of the health of both resident and migratory bird populations.

"The Christmas Bird Count has evolved into the world's largest and longest running wildlife survey," said Terry Johnson, WRD's Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program Manager. "Birds are indicators of the overall health of our environment and by looking at long-term population trends, biologists can get an idea of the success or failure of conservation efforts."

This year marks the 105th anniversary of the Christmas Bird Count. Over 50,000 volunteers will take part in counts held in all 50 states, every Canadian province, the Caribbean, Central and South America and the Pacific Islands. During the counts, every individual bird seen during one calendar day (from midnight to midnight) within specific geographic areas for the Christmas Bird Count is tallied. Each geographic area is a circle 15 miles in diameter, approximately 177 square miles. Participants meet at the end of the day to compile their results. In 2003, there was a record of 1,996 individual circles covered, totaling over 63 million birds counted.

"The Christmas Bird Count is THE birding event of the year. It is a fun sporting event, social occasion, education experience and wildlife survey," said Johnson. "Birders from all over the state gather to make this is one of the best examples of citizen science in action today. It provides an ideal opportunity for novice or beginning birders to learn bird watching skills from savvy experienced birders."

This year's counts will be held at the following 25 locations: Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge (Dec. 14); Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge (Dec. 15); Columbus (Dec. 16); Athens, Augusta, Cumberland Island, Dalton, Macon, Peachtree City, and St. Catherines Island (Dec. 18); Atlanta-Marietta and Chattahoochee National Forest Songbird Management Area (Dec. 19); Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge and Rum Creek Wildlife Management Area (Dec. 20); Carters Lake (Dec. 21); Aiken, S.C. (near Augusta) (Dec. 24); Amicalola Falls and Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (Dec. 27); Glynn County and West Point Lake (Jan. 1); Callaway, Floyd County and Savannah (Jan. 2); Albany, Bainbridge/Lake Seminole, and Lake Blackshear (TBA). Most counts are open to the public and everyone is encouraged to come out and participate. However, some counts, such as Cumberland Island and St. Catherines Island, are by invitation only due to transportation logistics.

"One of the exciting things about this event is you can be a citizen scientist for a day and help conserve the birds that enrich your life," said Johnson.

If you are interested in participating in one of the open counts, visit the Georgia Ornithological Society website at www.gos.org for the latest list of count dates, locations and contact information. There is a $5 fee to participate in the count for ages 19 and older - ages 18 and under and bird feeder watchers are free.