Count on it: Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count

Weekly eco-tips available at www.sustainablelawrence.org

By Scott Bentivegna, Sustainable Lawrence
   One important aspect of any sustainability or conservation effort is to look at man’s effect on eco-systems over long periods of time. One way to quantify this effect is to count animal populations. The Audubon Society is holding their annual Christmas Bird Count to get an accurate census on local bird populations, and provide valuable scientific and statistical data on population trends.
   Leading the count in the Princeton area this year is Lou Beck and Laurie Larsen. During a recent telephone interview with Lou, he explained the event and some of the interesting birds he has seen.
   The goal of the event is to try and find as many species of birds as possible and count their numbers. This includes both birds flying overhead and those on the ground. Lou is coordinating the efforts of nearly 80 people covering a 15-mile circle centered around a point in Princeton. This 15-mile circle covers an actual area of nearly 177 square miles. Through careful placement of teams of counters, Lou is hoping to avoid double counting of the same birds.
   Each group of counters would have one or more experienced birders in the group. Counters can use sight or sound to identify the birds and may need to consult a field guide for some of the less common species. The counters try to cover as much ground as possible within a 24-hour calendar day.
   Some interesting trends Lou has noted include several species of birds becoming more common in the northern states. Traditionally Southern birds, such as the Carolina Wren, Black Vulture and the Red-Bellied Woodpecker are becoming more common in our area.
   At the end of the day, the results are fed back to the Audubon Society where they are entered and posted on the Internet. Records of these counts go back as far as 1900 when the ornithologist Frank Chapman changed the course of history by counting birds on Christmas Day instead of participating in the ordinary bird-shoot.
   Local residents are encouraged to participate, but time is running short. The best way to get involved is to go online to the Washington Crossing Audubon Society (WCAS) Web page and click on the link for field trips. New counters should contact Lou Beck directly for assignment to an existing team. Lou is also quick to point out that the WCAS sponsors many other field trips throughout the year that may be easier for newcomers.
   Even if you choose not to participate, check out the WCAS website for more details on this important event and the historical counts at www.birdsource.org.
   Find further information at www.sustainablelawrence.org. Contact Sustainable Lawrence at (609) 895-1629 with questions or suggestions for additional eco-tips.