Christmas Is For The Birds

For the last 125 years, the National Audubon Society has hosted an event to observe and tally birds of all feathers across the United States, Canada, and many other countries in the Western Hemisphere. This event, which takes place annually at Christmastime is aptly called, The Christmas Bird Count.

It all started back in 1900 whe an American ornithologist named Frank Chapman along with 26 other conservationists, initiated “The Christmas Bird Count” (CBC) on, you guessed it, Christmas day, as a way of promoting conservation by counting, rather than hunting, birds. CBC has been running every year since, and has expanded to over 20 countries, with thousands of bird-loving volunteers eagerly participating.

The Christmas Bird Counts are conducted on a single, specific day between December 14 and January 5. Each count takes place in an established 15-mile diameter circle, and is organized by a coordinator called the compiler. Volunteers follow specified routes, counting every bird they see, or hear, as they often devote the entire day to the project.

The data collected allows Audubon researchers, conservation biologists, wildlife agencies, and other interested individuals to study the long-term health and status of bird populations across North America. When combined with other surveys, the CBC provides an annual snapshot of how the continent's bird populations have changed, or are changing, in time and space over the past century.

This long term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies and tactics to protect birds and their habitat, and helps identify environmental issues with implications for not just the birds, but for us as well.

This past Christmas, eight volunteers from Rome and surrounding areas joined the local count on December 16th. Headed up by Visit Rome’s Chelsea Willard as the compiler, they bundled up, grabbed their binoculars and field guides, and headed out in every direction within their defined 15-mile circle. 

Together they tallied over 20 hours of observation time as they trekked their way through the day to collect information on dozens of unique species of birds - from the ubiquitous American Crow, Blue Jay, and Canada Goose, to the not-so-common Brown Creeper, Swamp Sparrow, and Hermit Thrush.

On most days, most of us take birds for granted, maybe not noticing their presence at all. But on this day, with senses heightened, the volunteers see them all with the same anticipation as a child hunting for eggs on Easter. Every bird as special as the last - no matter their abundance or lack thereof. 

That said, there are a few species that, because of their unrivaled beauty and scarcity, are observed with maybe just a little more excitement and sense of accomplishment than the others. 

One such bird, the Trumpeter Swan, our biggest native waterfowl, stretches its wings to an impressive six feet in length and weighs in at almost 30 pounds. Despite their size, this once-endangered species is as elegant as any swan, with a graceful neck and snowy-white plumage. Spending most of their time in remote Alaska, Canada, and the northwestern U.S., the best time to see them here in Wisconsin, as the volunteers did, is on one of our lakes before the water freezes over.

Another bird of remarkable beauty is the Pileated Woodpecker. The Pileated (pronounced pī-lē-ˌā-təd) is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Only five were observed (and heard) on this bird count, as they no doubt were drumming their jackhammer heads at dead trees in search of their favorite meal, the scrumptious carpenter ant.

And yet another, the Belted Kingfisher, with its top-heavy physique, energetic flight, and piercing rattle, has an air of self-importance like no other. This year only three of these ragged-crested, powdery blue birds were spotted patrolling up and down our shorelines - the males sporting one blue band across their white breasts, while the female, not to be outdone, also wore a chestnut band.

By all accounts, this was a very successful event, not just here in Rome, but throughout the state and across the entire program. With over 400 species documented in Wisconsin over the years, each year the CBC brings new and exciting results…

…because Christmas truly is for the birds.

And here’s the good news; it takes no special skills to take part in this annual event - just an interest in birding, and the ability to look, listen, and document what you see. The best way to volunteer in next year’s event is to email Chelsea at cwillard@visitromewi.com or stop by the Visit Rome Office at 1146 County Highway D in Rome.

Written by: Lydell Capritta