Volunteers Help Audubon Track Partridges in the Pear Tree

Next week, the Audubon Society's 111th Annual Christmas Bird Count begins, when an army of thousands of volunteer "citizen scientists" will take to the field with their bird guides and checklists. The search for four Colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and dozens of native local bird species runs from December 14 to January 5.

The old holiday tradition was the Christmas "Side Hunt," where people would split into teams and compete to kill as many animals as they could. That didn't bring much Christmas cheer to the animals or conservationists who were becoming increasingly concerned with declining bird populations. So, in 1900, ornithologist and Audubon Society officer, Frank Chapman, came up with an alternative "hunt" — the Christmas Bird Census. Thankfully, the bird-friendly tradition caught on and has been embraced by families, students, birders and scientists across America.

It's more than a charming wintertime activity. The data collected by the Christmas Bird count, which is now the longest running wildlife census, gives researchers and conservation biologists vital information on the long-term health and status of bird populations across the continent. That means they can see whether conservation efforts are working, or not, and spot the red flags where more protection is needed.

While the Audubon Society does have higher-tech tracking tools — like eBird, which provides a real-time online checklist for year-round bird watchers around the world — the old school tradition of tromping out into the snow with your notebook is still invaluable.

In the 1980s, the Christmas Bird Count indicated a decline in the American Black Duck population, leading to more conservation measures to protect them from overhunting. The count has helped inform what habitats are most threatened, and by watching local trends in bird populations, they can figure out where wildlife may be facing habitat fragmentation or environmental threats like pesticides and groundwater contamination.

This year, 65 Christmas Bird Counts will cover nearly 1,000 miles along the Gulf coast, and about 10 of those are in the path of the oil spill. The results from this year's count will help establish the baseline for determining the long-term impact of the oil on wildlife ... an impact which the Audubon Society and other conservation groups want to see BP foot the bill for. You can help make sure that happens by telling Congress to designate BP's fines for Gulf restoration instead of letting the cash — and the commitment — get lost in the federal treasury.

Although anyone can participate in the Christmas Bird Count, it is a scientific study with a specific methodology, so official bird counts happen on different days in different areas of the country. To find out when the Bird Count is taking place in your neighborhood, check out the Audubon Society's website.

Photo credit: Steve Ryan