Discover a ardour for the outside and take part in one of many largest and longest-running neighborhood science initiatives this vacation season by becoming a member of the Christmas Bird Count with Mountaineer Audubon on Dec. 16.
During the nineteenth century, many households participated in Christmas “side hunts,” competing to convey home essentially the most recreation. However, on Christmas Day 1900, the National Audubon Society launched a brand new custom — the Christmas Bird Count, searching for to rely birds, fairly than hunt them.
For almost 50 years, the native National Audubon Society chapter, Mountaineer Audubon, has hosted Morgantown’s Christmas Bird Count, main the state in each individuals and species tallied in recent years. In 2022, the group recorded almost 8,000 individual birds throughout 91 species. This 12 months, the group goals to set a state report by tallying 100 species.
Data collected throughout the Christmas Bird Count is submitted to the National Audubon Society’s database, contributing to worthwhile analysis that illustrates the rises and declines of varied fowl species. Habitat loss has resulted in inhabitants declines for grassland species, evident in bird-watching counts. The knowledge has additionally showcased success tales, nevertheless — waterfowl and a few birds of prey populations seem to have benefited from dialog efforts.
“The Christmas Bird Count covers the same areas year after year,” stated rely coordinator Derek Courtney. “The same habitats can show a decline year after year after year. If that repeats and you see a downward trend of five years, 10 years, 20 years, you know that something is going on.”
Beyond contributing to very important analysis, the Christmas Bird Count offers a possibility to discover a brand new passion, spend time open air and have interaction along with your neighborhood — from anyplace, at any talent or mobility degree.
“That’s one of the great things about birding is that you can do it almost anywhere, from your backyard feeders to the most remote and wild places in the country. It’s not just about the birds. It’s about the community and about contributing something to science,” stated Courtney. “If someone wanted to get involved, they would contact me, and we would see what their interests are and their birding ability level and things like mobility because we try to account for people who have limitations walking and things like that. And then we can assign them to an area that they would enjoy and have fun in.”
The rely encompasses a 15-mile radius from the Morgantown Municipal Airport, with groups gathering at areas like Coopers Rock State Park, the West Virginia Botanic Garden and the Mon River Trail. Folks that reside inside the rely circle can signal as much as take part from their home and submit yard feeder knowledge. The West Virginia Young Birders Club will lead groups on the WVU Core Arboretum and the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia’s Outdoor Classroom to hold out the membership’s mission of encouraging youngsters to understand West Virginia’s pure magnificence by means of fowl watching.
“If you can inspire that passion in kids at a young age, it’s more likely they’ll be aware of the birds and their surroundings as they grow up. That’s one of the things I’ve noticed from before I started birding to after. I would go on a hike or a bike ride and tune out the bird sound, but after you get into it and learn more, it’s amazing how many birds are around you anywhere you go,” stated Courtney. “There’s something that clicks, then you start to become more aware. It’s really a gateway to a broader appreciation of nature and science.”
Courtney stated his favourite reminiscence of the Christmas Bird Count is of his first time collaborating round 14 years in the past. It was a chilly, snowy early morning on the WVU Core Arboretum, and thru the heavy snow, noticed a barred owl and listened to tundra swans singing on the river.
During the pandemic, individuals of all ages found the advantage of participating with nature, and the bird-watching passion noticed an increase in recognition. Regardless of whether or not you possibly can inform a chickadee from a cardinal, Mountaineer Audubon encourages individuals of all ages and backgrounds to take part.
“Anybody who’s interested in birds or wants to take part in the Christmas Bird Count, just get in touch with me and we’ll get you hooked up,” stated Courtney.
Anyone taken with collaborating within the rely can contact Courtney at [email protected] or 304-841-1015. December fifteenth is the final day to enroll. Birding backpacks containing bird-watching provides like binoculars, guidebooks and path maps will be checked out from all 5 Morgantown Public Library System areas.
In 2024, Mountaineer Audubon can have a lineup of different birding occasions, together with an owl walk on the West Virginia Botanic Garden in January, a woodcock walk in March, a waterfowl walk in March, in addition to weekly walks on the Core Arboretum when attainable.
For extra info on the group and its occasions, go to MountaineerAudubon.org.
TWEET @DominionPostWV
