Highland Lakes Birding & Wildflower Society ready to count Christmas birds

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

The Highland Lakes Birding & Wildflower Society is seeking volunteers, or “citizen scientists,” to participate in its annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) planned Friday, Jan. 2, in Burnet County’s circle, which is one of around 2,400 circles across the hemisphere.

More than 60,000 people across the country are expected participate in the 115th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, according to the Audubon Society.

The key to CBC citizen science is consistency: the same circle of area, at the same time of year, using the same methodology, said Sammye Childers, HLBWS member and compiler for the count this year. “I think people are starting to realize the importance of this documentation,” she said. It is the oldest citizen-scientist survey in the world, according to the Audubon Society.

Nine teams of around five people will cover the 177 square miles contained within the circle, which is 15 miles in diameter.

“The CBC is not the same as an ordinary birding field trip,” Childers said. “Each team spends an entire day driving slowly down roads, and when birds are spotted, they jump out, count and identify them.”

The survey reveals the total number of birds and the number of species in the circle for that specific day.

Experienced birders are paired with people who are less bird-savvy. “I will always find a place for anyone who wants to participate, but people need to know what they’re volunteering for before they sign up,” she said. Although there is not a lot of walking involved, potential volunteers should know the survey will take place “rain, shine, sleet, snow, and you’re in the field 8-10 hours,” Childers said.

The Audubon Society and Cornell University maintain the database used by scientists across the hemisphere. In one year, as many as 50 million birds can be counted, information used to chart population trends of wintering birds and behavior.

With such a wealth of data, scientists can track long-term trends in bird populations and how human activity has affected birds. Bird territories and flight patterns have shifted through the years. “That gives us indications about how climate is changing, as well as habitat fragmentation because of more and more people,” Childers said. “All wildlife is searching for new ways to live.”

For more information, visit the Audubon Society website: birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count, or call Sammye Childers at 830-693-5061 or sammyenmike@yahoo.com.

The full story will be in Friday's Highlander.