All about the Christmas Bird Count in Minnesota

Armed with binoculars, spotting scopes, ID books, smartphones and more, birders from across Minnesota will brave the wintry elements beginning this Sunday to participate in an annual tradition that goes back more than 100 years. It's the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count (CBC).

Dubbed the world's longest-running "citizen science" survey, the 115th annual CBC will lure more than 70,000 volunteer birders afield in roughly 2,400 locations across the United States, Canada and parts of Latin America. This year's CBC runs from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5.

"The Christmas Bird Count has been happening in Minnesota for more than 100 years," said Mark Martell, director of bird conservation for Audubon Minnesota in St. Paul, the state office of the National Audubon Society. "The counts help accumulate an enormous amount of data about bird populations across a very wide geographic range. There's really nothing like it in the world."

The first CBC took place on Christmas Day in 1900. According to the National Audubon Society, the idea was spearheaded by Frank Chapman, a famed ornithologist from the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Chapman conceived the CBC as an alternative to the era's so-called "side hunt," with participants choosing sides and shooting as many birds, regardless of species, as they could.

"Chapman recognized that declining bird populations could not withstand over-hunting, so he proposed the bird count on Christmas Day instead," said Martell.

According to Martell, the Christmas Bird Count utilizes "count volunteers" who follow specified routes within a designated 15-mile diameter circle. Minnesota has 76 of these circles in all, and they're spread across the state. Volunteers count every bird they see or hear throughout a single day. Last year, more than 1,400 birders in Minnesota participated in the CBC. They counted 242,797 birds, including 131 species. The results are tabulated and sent to Audubon's national headquarters. Those results are compiled and detailed on the organization's website. The results are also used in various Audubon reports.

The annual CBC provides data on bird population trends, including their range and movement, across North America and beyond. Scientists, students and even policymakers use the data to study and better understand behavior, habitat and what conservation measures are needed to protect the birds.

CBC data collected in the 1980s, for example, helped document the decline of the American Black duck. As a result, conservation measures were taken to protect the species. CBC data also has been used in Audubon's Birds & Climate Change and Common Birds in Decline reports. "It's very valuable information collected by grass-roots volunteers," noted Martell.

Lori Naumann is the publicist for the nongame wildlife program with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. She's also a longtime birder who has participated in the CBC for the last four years. "I have 11 bird feeders in my yard, including a heated bird bath with a wiggler that keeps the water moving throughout the winter," said Naumann, who started birding as a teenager roughly 30 years ago. "I'm constantly looking for birds, even when I'm driving. It's more than a hobby for me."

Both Naumann and Martell say the CBC not only provides important scientific data for bird researchers. The event is a catalyst for recruiting new birders.

"The Christmas Bird Count is a great social activity and helps people get outdoors during the winter," said Martell. "It's an annual tradition for a lot of folks. My circle is in Pine County, and after the count is over, we have dinner. We have a great time.

"The count also helps people develop a personal and conservation connection to [bird populations], which I think is very important for the long-term future of bird populations," he added.

For more information about participating in the Christmas Bird Count: www.audubon.org.