Unpack your binoculars. Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count is almost here.
Editor’s Note: This story was originally published by WLRN Public Media on Monday, December 1. The Spotlight is re-publishing this story under a partnership agreement with WLRN.
Calling all bird lovers. The National Audubon Society’s annual Christmas Bird Count gets underway Sunday, Dec. 14 this year.
Whether you’re a backyard birder counting avian visitors at your feeder or an avid birder with a Life List, now is your chance to contribute to one of the longest, most continuous scientific data sets in history.
READ MORE: Bird Watching in Coconut Grove
The count was started more than a century ago as a way to get birders in the field amid annual migrations. Over the years, the three-week bird count has helped reveal countless secrets.
Last year, counters across Florida documented good news and bad news.
Vagrant flamingos swept ashore by Hurricane Idalia during the summer had managed to survive months later. But only a few Whooping Cranes were spotted despite efforts to revive the population.
The counts are organized around “circles” where volunteers fan out to document birds. South Florida has nearly three dozen circles between the Dry Tortugas and the Everglades, ranging from rural farm fields to urban condo canyons.
Birds counts in Miami-Dade County are scheduled on Sunday 12/14, Saturday 12/20, and Sunday 12/21. To locate the circle nearest you or for more information, visit Tropical Audubon’s website or the National Audubon Society website to find a local chapter near you.
