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Christmas Bird Counts

The Audubon Society and its countrywide chapters organizes and conducts an annual Christmas Bird Count across the country (including Canada) during the Holiday Season. This event started in the year 1900 because prior to the turn of the 20th century, hunters engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas “Side Hunt.” That is, they would choose sides (teams) and go afield with their guns, and whichever “side” brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won.

Conservation was in its beginning stages in that era, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank M. Chapman, an early officer in the then-nascent Audubon Society (the Society officially came into being in 1905), proposed a new holiday tradition – a “Christmas Bird Census” that would count birds during the holidays rather than hunt them.

So began the Christmas Bird Count. Thanks to the inspiration of Chapman and the enthusiasm of 27 dedicated birders, 25 Christmas Bird Counts were held that day. The locations ranged from Toronto, Ontario to Pacific Grove, California with most counts in or near the population centers of northeastern North America. Those original 27 Christmas Bird Counters tallied around 90 species on all the counts combined.

2023 CBC Program – complete

2024 CBC Program

This year again we will run three CBCs:
Sonora CBC date TBD

Angels Camp CBC date TBD
Contact to sign up is Bruce McClenahan: (209)323-0739 or bgmcclenahan@gmail.com

Calaveras CBC date TBD
Contacts to sign up: Keith & Sandra Maurer: kandsmaurer@goldrush.com

Each count is conducted within a 15-mile diameter circle. The circle is divided into smaller sectors covered by teams of observers, usually made up of 2 to 10 birders. Both experienced and novice birders are included in each team. This provides excellent mentoring while gathering meaningful scientific data on a national and even international scale. At the end of each count day a potluck supper is held somewhere near the count circle area. It’s a great time for socializing and recapping the day’s efforts.