North Carolina birders brave winter weather for annual Christmas Bird Count

Chapel Hill, NC (NEWS RELEASE) – Starting tomorrow, volunteers all over North Carolina will brave the winter weather to participate in Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which runs from December 14, 2010 to January 5, 2011. This early-winter bird census is the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world. During the count period, thousands of volunteers across the United States, Canada, and many countries in the Western Hemisphere identify and count all the birds they see during a 24 hour period.

Fifty-two counts are scheduled throughout North Carolina during the 2010-2011 season, including new counts at Holly Shelter & Lea-Hutaff Island in Pender County and at Lake Lure in Rutherford County. The counts cover the entire state, from the Highlands Plateau in far western North Carolina to Bodie-Pea Island on the Outer Banks. (See a complete list of North Carolina counts at the end of this release.) Many of the count circles include public lands such as state parks, national wildlife refuges, and national seashores, as well as Audubon Important Bird Areas.

During the 2009-2010 CBC, North Carolina participants tallied 233 species and 819,576 individual birds. Southport regained its status as the state leader with 173 species counted. Four other counts exceeded 150 species last year, including Morehead City (which had the highest species count in the previous CBC), Bodie-Pea Island, Wilmington, and Lake Mattamuskeet. Two species previously unrecorded on any North Carolina CBC were spotted last year: a Wilson’s Phalarope on the Southport count and a Bell’s Vireo at Lake Mattamuskeet.

Hundreds of birders volunteer their time and often endure extreme weather during the North Carolina CBC. Three counts last year attracted more than fifty participants, with Jordan Lake taking the prize with 58 participants and the Winston-Salem and Raleigh counts close behind.

Curtis Smalling, Audubon North Carolina’s Important Bird Area Coordinator, noted that his count circle, the Grandfather Mountain count, typically records the worst weather for the state’s CBC. “This is one of the highest average elevation count circles in the mountains and we often see frozen ponds and lakes, as well as snow and wind,” he said. “Because of the high elevations and extreme weather we usually only average about 45 species, which is often the lowest species total in the state. But we take pride in the fact that we still get out there and see what is around.”

Count volunteers follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile diameter circle or can arrange in advance to count birds at home feeders inside the circle and submit the results to a designated compiler. Accuracy is assured by having new participants join an established group that includes at least one experienced birdwatcher.

“The Christmas Bird Count becomes more important every year,” said Audubon President David Yarnold. “The information gathered by its army of dedicated volunteers leads directly to solutions. At a time when people wonder if individual actions can make a difference, we know that our volunteers enable scientists to learn about the impacts of environmental threats like climate change and habitat loss. That’s good news not just for birds but for all of us.”

Scientists rely on the remarkable trend data of Audubon’s CBC to better understand how birds and the environment are faring throughout North America – and what needs to be done to protect them. Data from Audubon’s signature Citizen Science program are at the heart of numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies. CBC data informs the U. S. State of the Birds Report, issued by the Department of the Interior each spring. CBC analyses also revealed the dramatic impact climate change is having on birds across the continent.

The Audubon Christmas Bird Count began in 1900 when Frank Chapman, founder of Bird-Lore (which evolved into Audubon magazine) suggested an alternative to the “side hunt,” in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most game, including birds. Chapman proposed that people “hunt” birds only to count them.

Audubon North Carolina is the state office of the National Audubon Society representing 13,000 grassroots members and nine local chapters across the state. With a century of conservation history in North Carolina, Audubon strives to conserve and restore the habitats we share with all wildlife, focusing on the needs of birds. Audubon North Carolina achieves its mission through a blend of science-based research and conservation, education and outreach, and advocacy.