Jackson Audubon participates in the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) each Christmas season. The CBC is the oldest, longest-running citizen science effort and is held around the world each holiday season from December 14 thru January 5. In a single day from dawn to dusk, teams count all the birds they see or hear in a designated 15-mile-diameter circle. JAS sponsors two CBC events each year, the Jackson CBC and the Vicksburg CBC.
These counts are fun and educational, and there is always the possibility that a rare bird will be sighted by a team. All birds tallied by the teams in the designated circles and on a single day are reported to National Audubon. The data is added to the national CBC database, used to identify long-term population trends and changes in the range of species in winter, and to identify conservation needs for birds. Many scientists use the CBC data in their research.
The CBC occurs in a busy season for many, but if you’d like to start a new tradition that gets you outside with the birds, that contributes to bird conservation and builds lifelong relationships, consider being part of the CBC this year. To participate contact: Mary Stripling, CBC compiler at Stevenswaterbird@bellsouth.net.
