What is a Christmas Bird Count and Why Does it Matter?

Once upon a time, in the heart of the holiday season, families would bundle up in scarves, hats, and mittens—not for a cozy walk, but for a bird hunt. Each family or group would pick a region, sharpen their skills, and set off to see who could bag the most birds in a competitive frenzy. While the idea may sound like a harmless holiday tradition, it was, unfortunately, a significant contributor to the steep decline of avian populations, sending many species into troublingly low numbers.

Enter Frank M. Chapman, a forward-thinking officer of the National Audubon Society, who in 1900, with a spark of brilliance, turned the tables on this destructive holiday sport. Instead of hunting birds, Chapman proposed a new tradition—one that celebrated the birds rather than threatened them. Thus, the Christmas Bird Count was born. This event was designed as a peaceful alternative to the competitive bird hunts. Instead of focusing on killing, people would gather together, armed with only binoculars and notebooks, to count and document the birds they spotted in their region, creating an annual snapshot of bird populations across the continent.

Today, this tradition stretches from city parks to remote wilderness areas, like Great Basin National Park in Nevada. This park, with its rugged mountains, ancient bristlecone pines, and high desert landscapes, is home to a unique array of birds. Every year, the Christmas Bird Count invites participants to the park to contribute valuable data on local species, from the high-flying golden eagles to the elusive mountain quail. The information collected in places like Great Basin helps scientists track bird populations, monitor species declines, and understand how climate change is affecting these vital ecosystems.

So, this holiday season, consider joining the count. It’s a simple yet meaningful way to contribute to the protection of birds and the health of our ecosystems, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the same winged wonders we cherish today. If you are near Great Basin, you're invited to participate in the Snake Valley Christmas Bird Count on Wednesday, December 18, 2024. The Snake Valley CBC was established in 1997 and has been conducted every year since, with over 100,000 birds counted.

Or find a CBC near you!

Photo: looking through binoculars at Mather Overlook in Great Basin National Park