Annual Christmas Bird Count Set to Begin.

• Position: AUDUBON SOCIETY

For the 119th year, the National Audubon Society, New York, is organizing its annual Christmas Bird Count. Between Dec. 14-Jan. 5, tens of thousands of bird-loving volunteers will participate in counts across the Western Hemisphere. The data collected by participants continues to contribute to one of only two large existing pools of information notifying ornithologists and conservation biologists about what conservation action is required to protect birds and their habitats.

Each individual count takes place in a 15-mile-wide circle and is led by a compiler responsible for organizing volunteers and submitting observations to Audubon. Within each circle, participants tally all birds seen or heard that day--not just the species, but total numbers, to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population.

Christmas Bird Count data has been used in more than 300 peer-reviewed articles. When combined with other surveys, such as the Breeding Bird Survey, it provides a picture of how the continent's bird populations have changed in time and space over the past century. The long-term perspective is vital for conservationists. It informs strategies to protect birds and their habitats and helps identify environmental issues with implications...