Christmas Bird Count 1

This time of year, birders get to see their hobby/sport/lifestyle in mainstream media, thanks to coverage of the Christmas Bird Count. The 109th count began Sunday, Dec. 14, and will continue to Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.

According to National Audubon Society's CBC FAQs page, thousands of volunteers in the Western Hemisphere dedicate 24 hours to identifying species and counting birds within a 15-mile count circle. The predetermined circles are covered by birders who report to a count compiler before the circle's count date and pay the $5 participation fee.

The data collected by the birders helps researchers, biologists and other individuals study bird species' long-term health. Researchers can combine the CBC data with Breeding Bird Survey data to better understand species' behavior, and the data can generate reports, such as Common Birds in Decline and Watchlist 2007.

Today's media coverage of completed counts: San Francisco Chronicle with a nine-image photo gallery from Yosemite Valley


WFMD TV, Mansfield, Ohio
Newsday, New York, N.Y.
The Epoch Times, New York, N.Y.
Lawrence Journal-World, Perry, Kan.
The Sacramento Bee, Sacramento, Calif.
San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio, Texas