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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s Redbud Audubon Society is preparing to participate in the national Audubon Society’s 112th annual Christmas Bird Count.
The national Christmas Bird Count takes place this year between Wednesday, Dec. 14, and Thursday, Jan. 5.
Individual counts are held on specific days, and in Lake County, the 37th annual Clear Lake Christmas Bird Count, will take place on Saturday, Dec. 17.
Gary Langham, chief scientist for the National Audubon Society, calls the annual bird count “a globally recognized example of crowd-science.”
The National Audubon Society said the annual bird counts collect data important to the long-term health of North America’s diverse bird populations, and helps track how those populations have changed since the first bird count was held.
“Data from Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count are at the heart of hundreds peer-reviewed scientific studies,” Langham said. “CBC data have informed the U.S. State of the Birds Report, issued by the Department of the Interior, and modeled after Audubon’s annual reports begun in 2004. For example, in 2009, CBC analyses revealed the dramatic impact climate change is already having on birds across the continent."
The inspiration for the first count in 1900 came from Frank Chapman, founder of “Bird-Lore” – today’s “Audubon” magazine – who suggested that people hunt birds only to count them. The National Audubon Society said Chapman’s proposal was an alternative to “side hunts” in which teams of hunters competed to shoot the most animals and birds.
The 2010 national bird count included a record 2,215 counts from all 50 states, all Canadian provinces and 107 count circles in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands, the National Audubon Society reported. Approximately 62,624 people tallied more than 60 million birds.
“Everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count plays a critical role in helping us focus attention and conservation where it is most needed.” said Audubon Christmas Bird Count Director Geoff LeBaron.
LeBaron said the work is the foundation of Audubon’s “WatchList,” which identifies species in need of conservation help.
The national organization said the count also helps spotlight success stories, such as the comeback of the bald eagle and increases in other populations that have benefited from conservation.
In preparation for the local bird count, Redbud Audubon will hold a meeting to discuss bird identification on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7:15 p.m. at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church Social Hall, 5430 Third St.
Society member and photographer Brad Barnwell will lead a discussion on bird identification and characteristics of birds that count participants may see in the field.
Everyone from beginners to veteran birders are welcome to take part; beginners can learn from more experienced observers and experts during the count.
Each count group has a designated circle of 15 miles in diameter, according to the National Audubon Society.
First-time counters will be invited to participate in one of two count teams: the Anderson Marsh State Historic Park team led by Field Trips Leader Pat Harmon or the Clear Lake State Park team led by Barnwell.
Both groups start at 8 a.m. at either the Anderson Marsh parking lot or the Clear Lake State Park Visitor Center parking lot.
After the completion of the Clear Lake Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 17, participants are invited for a pizza dinner at Kelseyville Pizza at 6 p.m., where the group will compile the tally of birds sighted that day.
Anyone interested in participating in the bird count is asked to contact Darlene Hecomovich at 707-928-5591 or
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
