The longest running citizen science survey in the world, Audubon's annual Christmas Bird Count, will take place from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5, 2011.
Tens of thousands of volunteers throughout North America will brave winter weather to add a new layer to over a century of data.
Last year's count shattered records. More than 2,100 counts and 60,753 people tallied 2,319 species and 55,951,707 total birds. That's nearly 56 million birds. Citizen Scientists spotted 200 more species than during the previous year's bird count.
Counts took place in all 50 states, all Canadian provinces, plus several Central and South American countries, Guam, Mariana Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Colombia now has more CBC circles than any other country outside the US and Canada.
The census is becoming the most important monitoring system for biodiversity in the country.
Scientists rely on the remarkable trend data of Audubon's CBC to better understand how birds and the environment are faring - and what needs to be done to protect them.
Data from Audubon's signature Citizen Science program are at the heart of numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies. CBC data informs the U. S. State of the Birds Report, issued by the Department of the Interior each spring. CBC analyses also revealed the dramatic impact Climate Change is having on birds across the continent.
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count began in 1900 when Frank Chapman, founder of Bird-Lore (which into Audubon magazine) suggested an alternative to the "side hunt," in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most game, including birds. Chapman proposed that people "hunt" birds only to count them. Now Binocular Brigades often brave winter's chill, ice and snow to record changes in resident populations before spring migrants return.
The Christmas Bird Count becomes more important every year;" said Audubon President David Yarnold. "The information gathered by its army of dedicated volunteers leads directly to solutions. At a time when people wonder if individual actions can make a difference, we know that our volunteers enable scientists to learn about the impacts of environmental threats like climate change and habitat loss. That's good news not just for birds but for all of us."
Audubon CBC data not only helps identify birds in most urgent need of conservation action; it reveals success stories. The Christmas Bird Count helped document the comeback of the previously endangered Bald Eagle, and significant increases in waterfowl populations, both the result of conservation efforts.
