Wildlife Wednesday 12/25/2024

Happy #WildlifeWednesday! 

‘Tis the season for the longest running citizen science project  in the world, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC).

Up through the 19th century, many people in North America participated in a tradition of competitive hunting on Christmas Day, seeing who could kill the most birds. But in December 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed counting birds instead, and thus the idea of the CBC was hatched. 

The Christmas Bird Count has been held every year since. Participation in the count is free and open to all. Each count area is assigned a 15 mile diameter circle, and participants spend the day recording every bird they see. Counts can be held any day between and including December 14 – January 05.

The CBC has grown from its initial year of 27 observers to today’s tens of thousands of volunteers who participate. Data collected from this wildlife census over more than the past century has been recorded and used by scientists to track bird populations and inform conservation-related decisions.

TWC staff and bird club members assisted with the Wilmot count, observing species throughout our grounds that included Blue Jay, Carolina Wren, Northern Harrier, and Sandhill Crane.