The Timeless Call of the Christmas Bird Count: A Tradition Since 1900
Christmas celebrations in 1900 were marked by traditions that remain familiar today, such as Christmas trees, greeting cards, and the presence of Santa Claus. However, that year also introduced a novel tradition: the Christmas Bird Count. Initiated by the Audubon Society, this event aimed to highlight the decline in bird populations globally.
Originally, the Christmas Bird Count was conceived as an alternative to the Christmas Side Hunt, a popular activity where participants formed teams to hunt and shoot as many birds as possible. At a time when conservation was still in its infancy, some individuals grew concerned about the decreasing numbers of birds. This concern led ornithologist Frank Chapman to suggest a different kind of gathering—one focused on counting birds instead of hunting them.
The inaugural Bird Count took place on Christmas Day with 27 participants from the U.S. and Canada, recording 90 different species. Today, this initiative continues as possibly the longest-standing community science project worldwide. Each year, tens of thousands of volunteers join in the final weeks of December, documenting countless bird species and millions of individual birds across the globe.
Researchers utilize this extensive data collection to monitor bird population health, a task increasingly critical due to the impacts of climate change driven by human activities. Findings from the data indicate that iconic North American birds, including the bald eagle and northern cardinal, face significant threats. Participants in the modern Bird Count hope their efforts will lead to enhanced protection and conservation measures for bird species, echoing the aspirations of Chapman and his contemporaries on that Christmas long ago.
This Earth Note originally aired on December 22, 2021. It was written by Melissa Sevigny and produced by KNAU and the Sustainable Communities Program at Northern Arizona University.
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