Christmas Bird Count Planned This Week

In 1900, American ornithologist Frank Chapman asked birders across North America to head out on Christmas Day to count the birds in their home towns and submit the results as the first "Christmas Bird Census." His suggestion has evolved into one of the largest organized birding events in the world, and has become a holiday tradition during the Christmas and New Year's season for more than 50,000 birders each year.

The 108th Christmas Bird Count, as it is now called, started December 14 and is continuing through January 5, in 2,000 areas across Canada, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Local counts are planned for the Les Cheneaux Islands area, Mackinaw City, Sault Ste. Marie, Seney, Whitefish Point, Cheboygan, Petoskey, and Rogers City.

These bird observations, collected during one-day field counts within defined circular areas, are compiled in an international database that reflects the distribution and numbers of winter birds over time. The results are sent to the Audubon Society, and the information is used to track bird locations and health.

The Les Cheneaux Bird Count, now in its seventh year, will be the Saturday after Christmas, December 29. Birders will meet at 8 a.m. at the Cedarville Foods parking lot at the corner of M-134 and M-129. Participants will drive around the Les Cheneaux and Pickford areas searching for birds.

Participants in previous counts have identified more than 60 bird species, including hawks, owls, buntings, sparrows, and even robins and swans, in the 15-mile radius of the count.

Count leaders expect to travel between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., and will take a break for lunch at Ang-Gio's Restaurant in Cedarville. Participants will buy their own lunch. Participants should bring their own car, but they may carpool in groups. They should bring warm clothing, boots, and waterproof clothing or gear, as there may be some walking through the snow. Coordinators will assign an area.

People can also count birds at their feeders December 29, and report their results at the end of the day to Nadine Cain by calling 484- 2739.

Additional information is available from the Nature Conservancy's Upper Peninsula director, Tina Hall, by calling (906) 225-0399, or by sending e-mail to chall@tnc.org.

A Mackinac Straits count will be coordinated by Steven Baker, who can be contacted at (231) 238-8723

A count in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, will be coordinated by Ken McIlwrick, who can be contacted at (705) 949-2864, or by sending email to kmcilwri@nrcan.gc.ca.

The Whitefish Point count will be coordinated by Skye Haas, who can be reached at TheOwlRanch @aol.com.

For the Cheboygan count, call Ed Pike at (231) 758-3319 or send email to aes05@localnet.com.

For many years, the Christmas Bird Count was organized by the New York-based National Audubon Society. In 2000, Audubon and Bird Studies Canada partnered with Audubon to coordinate counts in the United States and Canada.

Additional information on the Christmas Bird Count can be found at the Audubon Society Web site, at www.audubon.org/bird/cbc.

Last season's 107th Christmas Bird Count results were released in October, and can be seen by going to the Audubon Society's Web site and following the Christmas Bird Count link.